SECTION 430 - SAFETY AND
COMFORT STANDARDS FOR VIDEO DISPLAY TERMINALS
This
procedure presents purchase, maintenance, and ergonomic guidelines applicable
to video display terminals and keyboards. The objective of these guidelines,
which have been reviewed by the County Health Officer and representatives of
the Service Employees International Union, is to provide the safest and most
comfortable working conditions for all County employees.
A.
PURCHASE AND MAINTENANCE GUIDELINES
The Information Services Department, with the assistance
of Risk Management and the County Health Officer, will regularly update
ergonomic standards for video display terminals.
All video display terminals and keyboards provided for
use by County employees will meet the established County guidelines.
Departments will provide video display terminal glare
screens, terminal hoods, footrests and copyholders to video display terminal
users on request, subject to standard County Purchasing Procedures.
Acoustical covers for printers that are located in
office Work areas (as opposed to separate rooms or enclosures), and Are used
more than one hour daily on a regular basis, will be Provided by departments if
requested by workers who occupy The same office as the printer. Such acoustical
covers will be provided within a reasonable time subject to standard County
Purchasing Procedures.
Information about the importance of maintaining a
comfortable Working position and reducing video screen glare will be Provided
in the County training classes conducted by Informal Ton Services. Classes
concerning computer or terminal use Conducted by the County Training Task Force
will also include such information.
Available brochures that address comfortable and proper
use of video display equipment, but do not advocate the purchase of specific
equipment or services, will be made available to All County employees who use
video display terminals.
B.
ERGONOMIC GUIDELINES
The ergonomic
guidelines specified below apply to video display terminals (VDTs), keyboards
and accessories. They shall not apply to personal computers. Ergonomic and
other guidelines for office furnishings, including those used with video
display terminals, are addressed in the General Services Facilities Standards
manual.
The following are considered to be minimum ergonomic
guidelines; they must be met, but may be exceeded at any time:
The video display terminal (VDT) must meet all
applicable laws and regulations with respect to health, safety, and radio
frequency interference or electromagnetic capability (RFI/EMC).
Each VDT must have a separate control for brightness and
contrast (monochrome), which is easily adjustable by the terminal operator.
The screen surface must have an anti-reflective coating
or surface designed to reduce glare and may be fitted with an anti-glare hood
mechanism.
The minimum dot matrix composition
for screen characters must be 5 by 7 pixels.
The VDT must be adjustable for tilt and swivel or be
firmly attached to a separate base, which can be so adjusted; it must not be an
integral part of the office furnishing and must be capable of being moved on
the support surface.
The VDT screen must be no less than 9 inches as measured
on the screen diagonally and must be free of blur or flicker.
Heat emission must not exhaust
noticeably towards users.
Knobs, buttons, covers, and keys
must have a matte finish to minimize glare.
The keyboard must be detachable.
The keyboard cable must extend to at least six feet in
length but should be coiled or retractable to less than two feet when the
operator does not require extension.
The keyboard angle must be adjustable or sloped to
a comfortable operator position.