Occupational Safety, Health and Work Ethics in IT/ITeS
What this domain tests
Occupational Safety, Health and Work Ethics tests safe workstation setup, electrical and fire precautions, e-waste handling, stress management and the professional conduct expected in IT/ITeS workplaces.
Core rules and concepts
- Ergonomics: the chair supports the lower back; feet are flat; wrists stay straight; the monitor top is at or slightly below eye level, about arm's length away. Take micro-breaks.
- The 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to reduce eye strain.
- Electrical safety: no daisy-chained extension boards, no liquids near equipment, use properly earthed sockets, and disconnect power before servicing.
- Fire safety: know exits and extinguisher types; never use water on electrical fires.
- E-waste (old computers, batteries, toner) goes to authorised recyclers, not ordinary bins.
- Ethics: confidentiality, integrity, respect at work, honest reporting, no plagiarism or unlicensed software, and no conflict of interest. Report hazards and incidents; data privacy duties continue after employment.
Worked example
A candidate says a 20-20-20 break means “rest for 20 minutes every 20 seconds.” Correct it: every 20 minutes of screen work, look about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. The numbers are 20/20/20, not a rest duration.
Traps that cost marks
Safety (physical harm) is not the same as security (data protection). Ethics is not only legal compliance. Deleting files does not erase confidentiality duties. “No injury yet” does not make an unsafe setup acceptable.