Goochie

My monitor at work is on a silly Ikea computer stand that, whilst looking quite nice, means that I spend all day with my head tilted slightly down looking at the screen.

I seem to remember at my last place of work a health and safety consultant told us that the centre of the screen should be in line with your eyes when you're lookign forward, neck in a natuaral upright position.

Does anyone know more on this? (link to a web site would be good) as I'm starting to get an aching neck at work and in the evenings. I've told my boss but he said "what a load of b******s"

spender

You are right, the top of the screen should be above youyr line of sight.
Tell you r boss you're going to be off work with RSI - he'll soon take notice

Brendan Hughes

Er, RSI comes from typing too fast. Not sure how you link that with not being able to see your monitor comfortably!

Graz

Think it's the top of the screen that should be level with your eyes.

See here: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf

Goochie

I could always say I have to type very fast to keep the document at the top of the page because thats the only part of the screen I can see comfortably

King RA

my company is H&S mad and it really gets on my ****. Whack a big ream of paper from the printer underneath it, thats what we do here sometimes.

spender

Brendan,

RSI comes from Repetitive Strain Injury - meaning too much movement that the joint doesn't like - in this case looking at a screen at an angle the user is not used to.

Freak

In your fingers yes
Its not confined purely to those joints however- can apply anywhere

Goochie

sadly I can't do the ream of paper trick (thats what I did at the previous place) because the monitor sits of an sloping part of the computer desk and would all slide off the back because it'd then be above the retaining bar (sounds complicated but trust me, it wouldnt work).

Currently the top of my screen is a good 10 inches below my eyeline (its a 19" screen so seeing the bottom means looking down at quite an angle)

Brendan Hughes

spender/Freak - ooh, OK cheers

logiclee

Goochie,

The absolute minimum your employer must have done would be to assess your workstation.

Ask to see the assessment, if they haven't done one they are breaking the law.

If they have tell them you would like them to re-assess your workstation because you are suffering from neck and back ache.

The above pdf file is a very good guide.

Remember it's not only your right it's the law.

Cheers
Lee

mike1210

you defo need to get it sorted. I think I am getting the start of RSI now in my right hand, had to work this week using mostly my left. In the past my neck got so bad my arms and chest also felt the brunt of it and i had to take a couple of days off work. Doing neck exercises can help when you get up every morning and using a mouse and keyboard rest (to prop your arm up to the same level as the mouse and keyboard). Don't slouch down or sit awkwardly at your desk as well as your posture is a great factor in this!!!!! On a lighter note Where i work now people are doing anything to get TFT monitors as they are convinced they will die within 1 year of exposure to a CRT. Some people get doctors notes with bad eyesight (fair enough).

One guy complained that his CPU was making a screeching noise but every time (6 times!!!) the engineer went to see his PC there was nothing wrong with it. The guy got in touch and said he thinks having a TFT monitor should fix the problem . I could make a book of ways the customers try to get one at my place