14 inch monitors in school health and saftey issues

[Uraken]

hi all i have been informed recently that our 14 inch tft monitors no longer meet health and safety regs as they are too small can any confirm or provide evidence to the contary?

[Dos_Box]

Sounds iffy to me. Like many H&S policies it may have been 'made up' by someone who likes to dictate silly rules. You would have to ban a lot of laptop screens too if this was the case.

[gwendes]

There are probably rules which dictate the distance from the eyes and resolution of 14" TFT screens...

[sahmeepee]

I don't think the rules are that specific.

 

The guidelines /do/ say that you shouldn't use laptops as a replacement for desktops for users of display screen equipment. I think this is because they are generally positioned too low - the top of the screen should be at eye level when you sit up straight.

 

the general stuff (summarised):

 

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/so/policies/dse

 

official guide for implementing the rules:

 

http://www.hse.gov.uk/lau/lacs/16-1.htm

[Uraken]

doesn't say what size they need to be though.

[PEO]

H&S gone mad once again!

[Uraken]

we don't for certain yet mrhappy i can not find any evidence at all?

[enjay]

The guidelines /do/ say that you shouldn't use laptops as a replacement for desktops for users of display screen equipment. I think this is because they are generally positioned too low - the top of the screen should be at eye level when you sit up straight.

Yes, you're correct when you say it is about position, not screen size - you should have your elbows at right-angles when on the keyboard and the top of the screen just below eye-level - you obviously can't do both of those with a laptop.

 

If you look at the guidelines for how to sit at a computer, you might be surprised how few people sit correctly (I know I'm not sitting correctly as I type this).

 

I can't say I've ever seen anything banning 14" screens, but practicality does now dictate a bigger screen size as there are plenty of applications out there which hurt on anything less than 1024x768, and that often isn't pretty on anything as small as 14". If there is a statement anywhere saying "thou shalt not", it will be on the Health & Safety Executive's web site, http://www.hse.gov.uk

[Pete10141748]

Who "informed" you of this? Sounds to me like someone making up the rules so that you have no choice but to get nice, new, bigger screens!

 

We have many 14" monitors here, and the H&S inspection we are currently having (literally right now!) hasn't said a word about it.

 

Pete

[tech_guy]

I didn't know that you could get 14" TFTs - thought the minimum size was 15"?

[enjay]

I didn't know that you could get 14" TFTs - thought the minimum size was 15"?

Today yes, but you used to be able to get 12" and 14" TFTs; also remember that 15" CRTs have a visible area of less than 14".

[InTheDark]

Personally I’d ask to see the evidence that states that 14inch tfts don’t meet the health and safety regs.

 

Does this mean I can’t use my 6.1inch tft Libretto any more?

[CyberNerd]

Some more detailed rules here:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/crr_pdf/2000/crr00304.pdf

 

I can't see HSE banning any display devices below 15" anytime soon, IMO smaller displays becoming more prevalent in the workplace.

[Busybub]

Think the most relevant legislation would be the Display Screen Equipment regs which cover how suitable the display screen is for the user using it, and includes stuff about ambient lighting and general workstation environment. By definition this will vary from one user at one workstation to the next...

 

It's all pretty vague, but as long as your users aren't complaining that they are getting headaches, and squinting, the monitors are OK.

 

If they ARE squinting, check the lighting in the room.

If it's positioned too low, put it on a monitor stand or monitor arm.

If it's flickering, increase the scan rate.

 

As long as you can display a reasonable approach to any complaints, you shouldn't have to change the monitors for a larger one unless there is no other practical alternative.

 

To date, I have only had two teachers mention getting headaches when looking at a CRT. Both were replaced with 15" TFTs which aren't much bigger than your 14's

[Lithium]

Does this mean you can't use one the itsy bitsy, "I lost it in my pocket" Asus laptops?

[laserblazer]

Every year our H&S audit asks "Are the monitors at the correct working level?" Every year I reply "Yes, it's the kids that are at the wrong height!"

[enjay]

Every year our H&S audit asks "Are the monitors at the correct working level?" Every year I reply "Yes, it's the kids that are at the wrong height!"

We have that exact problem, actually - our ICT Suites are used by all students from Year 2 upwards, and there really is no way to make the same desk, chair, keyboard and monitor comfortable for both a 7-yr-old and an 18-yr-old.