Bright lights, bright lights
Published October 17, 2007 at 2:25 pm · Filed under Features
Recent reports from the BBC and Cambridge University have raised fears about the effect of interactive whiteboards and projectors on the eyesight of teachers and puplis.
The same concerns also apply to presenters and audiences in business environments. In order to minimise the risk of damage, all office workers should bear in mind the following common sense advice from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
“Employers should establish work procedures and give instruction on their adoption so that:
- Staring directly into the projector beam is avoided at all times.
- Standing facing into the beam is minimised. Users should try to keep their backs to the beam as much as possible.
- In this regard, the use of a stick or laser pointer to avoid the need for the user to enter the beam is recommended.
- Pupils and students are adequately supervised when they are asked to point out something on the screen.
- Employers should also try to ensure that projectors are located out of the sight line from the screen to the audience; this ensures that, when presenters look at the audience, they do not also have to stare at the projector lamp. The best way to achieve this is by ceiling-mounting rather than floor or table-mounting the projector.
- In order to minimise the lamp power needed to project a visible presentation, employers should use room blinds to reduce ambient light levels.
