Summer vacations have come and gone, and now it’s back to the grindstone and staring at the computer screen for hours on end. If your employees spend a good portion of their work day in front of a computer, it’s wise to take steps to help prevent computer-related eyestrain. Here are four suggestions:
- Position the computer monitor between 20 and 40 inches from the eyes. An employee whose eyeglass prescription doesn’t allow clear vision at this recommended distance should look into a prescription adjustment.
- Set the screen height so the top edge is even with the employee’s view when looking straight ahead. Then, tilt the screen upward to avoid having to view the screen image at an angle. The optimal screen position is 15 to 20 degrees below eye level.
- Set monitor screen resolution, text size, and zoom and font defaults for the various computer applications so that text is easy to read. Standard resolution is 600×800.
- The monitor refresh rate should be 75 hertz or above. Any slower can cause eyestrain.
400+ pages of state-specific, easy-read reference materials at your fingertips—fully updated! Check out the Guide to Employment Law for California Employers and get up to speed on everything you need to know.
Additional Resources:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration Computer Workstations/Monitors eTool
Additional safety checklists from Cal/OSHA Compliance Advisor