Safety Information; Working Efficiently And Safely - HP OmniBook 5000 User Manual

Safety Information

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Working Efficiently and Safely

Ergonomics is the science that fits products to people. Its goal is to make products easy,
enjoyable, safe, and efficient to use. However, with even the best designed equipment,
how you use the product is very important.
The OmniBook is optimized for portability and battery life, while maintaining full PC
compatibility and functionality. As a result, it may not meet all ergonomic standards for
desktop workstations.
You can use your OmniBook virtually anywhere, anytime, so following the guidelines
below can be a challenge—but your efforts will be worthwhile, and help ensure that your
OmniBook is ergonomically effective for you.
Place your OmniBook directly in front of you, within easy reaching distance for
your hands when your arms are hanging straight down at your side (this is about 16
inches, or 40 centimeters, in most cases).
Whenever possible, adjust your seat height, work surface, or both to position the
surface at approximately elbow height.
Try not to use a lot of force when typing—type as lightly as possible. The
OmniBook keyboard requires little force to activate, and excess force during typing
may increase the risk of injury to you in the long term.
Do not rest your wrists on a sharp edge when typing. Whenever possible, find a
work surface edge that is rounded or padded, or position yourself so your hands rest
on the surface, not its edge.
When typing, try to find positions where you can sit with your arms (shoulder to
elbow) straight down at your sides, and try not to hold your arms out away from
your body (angle less than 20 degrees).
Position the keyboard so your wrists, hands, and fingers are in a "neutral" line
while typing. This means they do not tilt up or sideways more than 10 degrees.
Shift positions and move your body from time to time—keeping your body "locked"
in one position for a long period of time is unnatural and stressful.
Take short (about 2 minutes or so) breaks whenever you feel fatigued, tired, or
stiff—or at least once every hour. Use the breaks to gently stretch your hands,
fingers, arms, and shoulders. Data show that people who sit and work for long
periods without breaks are more prone to injury. Shorter, more frequent breaks are
more effective than longer, less frequent ones.
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