Know and understand the causes of these safety issues and strategies for preventing them

Published by Patrick Mutisya · 14 days ago

ICT 0417 – Safety and Security Notes

Safety and Security

Objective

Know and understand the causes of safety issues in the use of information and communication technology and the strategies for preventing them.

1. Common Safety Issues

  • Physical injury – cuts, bruises, trips, and falls caused by cables, equipment, or poor workstation layout.

  • Electrical hazards – electric shock, short‑circuiting, and fire caused by faulty wiring, overloaded sockets or damaged power supplies.

  • Fire risk – overheating of computers, printers, or batteries.

  • Ergonomic problems – eye strain, repetitive‑strain injury (RSI), back pain from improper posture or prolonged use.

  • Data loss – accidental deletion, hardware failure, or corruption.

  • Malware infection – viruses, worms, ransomware, spyware.

  • Unauthorised access – hacking, phishing, social engineering, insider threats.

  • Privacy breaches – personal data exposed through insecure transmission or storage.

2. Causes of the Issues

  1. Inadequate training and awareness of safe working practices.

  2. Poor maintenance of hardware and software.

  3. Improper workstation design and lack of ergonomic equipment.

  4. Over‑loading power outlets and using damaged cables.

  5. Failure to keep software up‑to‑date (patches, antivirus definitions).

  6. Weak password policies and lack of authentication controls.

  7. Insufficient backup procedures and disaster‑recovery planning.

  8. Neglecting physical security (e.g., unlocked doors, unattended devices).

3. Strategies for Prevention

Safety IssuePreventive Strategies
Physical injury

  • Keep work areas tidy; route cables away from walkways.

  • Use cable management devices.

  • Provide clear signage for hazards.

Electrical hazards

  • Use surge protectors and avoid over‑loading sockets.

  • Inspect cords regularly; replace damaged ones.

  • Ensure equipment is grounded.

Fire risk

  • Maintain adequate ventilation around equipment.

  • Regularly clean dust from fans and vents.

  • Install smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.

Ergonomic problems

  • Adjust chair height, monitor position, and keyboard angle.

  • Encourage regular breaks (e.g., 5‑minute break every hour).

  • Provide ergonomic accessories such as wrist rests.

Data loss

  • Implement regular automated backups (local and cloud).

  • Use reliable storage media and test restore procedures.

  • Apply version control for critical documents.

Malware infection

  • Install reputable antivirus/anti‑malware software.

  • Keep operating systems and applications up‑to‑date.

  • Restrict installation of software to authorised personnel.

Unauthorised access

  • Enforce strong password policies (minimum length, complexity, regular changes).

  • Use multi‑factor authentication where possible.

  • Limit user privileges to the minimum required.

Privacy breaches

  • Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit.

  • Apply access controls and audit logs.

  • Provide training on handling personal information.

4. Recommended Safety Procedures

  1. Conduct a risk assessment of the ICT environment at least annually.

  2. Develop and display a written ICT safety policy.

  3. Provide induction training for new users and refresher sessions for existing staff.

  4. Maintain an incident‑reporting system for accidents, near‑misses, and security breaches.

  5. Schedule regular maintenance checks for hardware, software, and physical infrastructure.

  6. Test backup and recovery processes quarterly.

  7. Review and update security measures in response to emerging threats.

5. Summary Checklist

  • Are workstations ergonomically set up?

  • Are cables secured and power outlets not overloaded?

  • Is antivirus software active and up‑to‑date?

  • Are strong passwords and multi‑factor authentication in use?

  • Is data regularly backed up and tested?

  • Are fire safety devices functional and inspected?

  • Is staff trained on safe ICT practices and data protection?

Suggested diagram: Flowchart showing the relationship between causes of safety issues, preventive strategies, and outcomes (reduced risk, improved productivity).