Extended use of the computer is a necessity for all those workers whose jobs are related to Outbound Telemarketing, Business Process Outsourcing and Administrative Occupation. As we establish that fact, using the computer should be a BPO health concern because of reasons that we are going to discuss in this article.

As one of those who spend most of their time facing the screen of your computer may it be for finding leads on the internet, taking online calls from several customers or even checking your social networking sites, have you questioned yourself of the health problems that may arise?

This Spanish proverbs is similar to the quote “health is wealth”.

There are many reasons why we disregard these concerns about our health and one of them is the sense of being too occupied. Some of the bad habits we have are skipping  meals, eating snacks even if we are not hungry, drinking too much coffee and not stretching our body once in a while. We tend to consider that it’s a rare practice. We do it once in a blue moon and our body will be able to handle the recovery of such activity.

How about if you do the same risky ritual everyday, like using your computer?

Now here are commonly ignored health matters that we should worry about when using our computers and how to better the situation:

1. Posture

Posture is a position that is held for a duration. It could be standing, sitting or even lying down. Some bad postures while using your computer are hunching your back or a rounded shoulder. The painful experience of a neck-ache, back-pains and migraines can be a result of a bad posture in an extended period. There is a scary notion that when done everyday, a bad posture can affect your spinal cord. That is why people with scoliosis need to be more attentive to their posture.

Common problems with your posture are usually linked to the height of the furniture that you’re using. When the table is too low, you have the tendency to bend down just to adjust your sight from the screen.

Good posture involves training your body to stand, walk, sit and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement or weight-bearing activities. Read more.

The solution to this is to obtain a comfortable chair that would support your elbows and back. Always remind yourself to sit-up straight by putting a pillow behind your lower back. A laptop table that would give you a good angle for viewing the screen is also a good addition. And of course, do not forget to take a few breaks and stretch your arms and body. Take a minute to walk before going back to work.

2. Eyestrain

Straining your eyes can lead to eye discomforts such as itching, watery eyes, blurring of vision, and a permanent increase to light sensitivity.

Some of the effects of prolonged glare on an illuminated screen is eye fatigued and it can cause migraines.

Although eye strain can cause discomfort, it usually isn’t serious and goes away once you rest your eyes. You may not be able to change the amount of time you spend in front of a computer at work, or the factors that can cause eye strain but you can take steps to reduce it. Read more…

• Make sure there are no reflections or glare on your PC screen. This can be done by turning the brightness level high or staying away from the barging sunlight.
• Do not put the screen too close to your eyes.
• Put the screen at eye level.
• Do not forget to blink. Practice blinking frequently while using your computer to reduce dry eyes.
• Remember to take breaks in order to rest your eyes
• Avoid from washing your face with water right after using the computer for a long period of time
• Consider buying prescription glasses if you have astigmatism

3. Radiation

If you use computers at work or at home, or both, then computers may be your biggest source of electromagnetic radiation (EMR).

In fact, this radiation has been linked with many serious diseases:

• Asthma
• Alzheimers
• Cancer
• Depression
• Heart Disease

Symptoms of frequent and prolonged EMF exposure are often dismissed as being caused by stress, overwork, or just getting older. These include

• Headaches
• Tiredness
• Sleep disturbances
• Concentration and memory disorders
• Dizziness
• Skin prickling, itching, burning or flushing sensations on the face or elsewhere
• Uncomfortable, dry or swollen mucous membranes in the throat, ears or sinuses
• Muscle and joint pains
• Heart palpitations

Electromagnetic HyperSensitivity (EHS)

Noticing symptoms related to EMF exposure can be a sign that a person is developing a condition known as Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS).

With EHS, when an afflicted person is exposed to certain types of  EMF, they often experience symptoms  — usually one or more of those on the list above. Read more.

Radiation from a computer is a uncommon problem that is continuously being ignored by many. One reason is because it never became a huge threat to a man’s life since individuals hardly use these devices before.

But in this technologically evolving times, we become more dependent from these gadgets. A normal person may have used more than half of his/her day in using the computer.

All you have to do is to keep a safe distance from those gadgets that emits radiation:

• While using your laptop, push it away from you as far as possible.
• You can use multiple monitor screens as long as it must be 12 inches away from your face.
• Don’t use radio communication facilities near your computer and network equipment. This can be very evident in BPO Outbound Telemarketing companies and call center buildings since telecommunication is the lifeblood of the company.
• Keep away from EMF exposing equipment such as external hard drives, printers, router, modems, and network hubs.

BPO Companies: What can they contribute?

In the BPO industry, keeping clients and customers satisfied is a very important feat since they are the ones who bring money for the company to survive and grow. However, we should understand that keeping ourselves healthy is of supreme importance since we cannot serve them when our body cannot function well.

Thus, these BPO companies should buy the right furniture and appliances that could give comfort to their employees while they work for long hours. Healthcare benefits should also be given importance because employees are the distributors of profit. Furthermore, frequent breaks can be given during call-taking duties in order to give them a breather from the degradation that technology exposes.