Ergonomics > Ergonomic Products > Ergonomic Lighting
Do not take this section lightly, no pun intended!
- The Ergonomic Lighting at your workstation depends on the type of job you are involved in. Do use bright lights with a large lighted area while working with printed materials. Limit the brightness of light for computer tasks.
- The user should be able to adjust the position and angle of the light sources, as well as their intensity levels.
- To direct or diffuse the light, it should have a hood or filter.
- The base of the light should be large enough to allow a variety of convenient positions or extensions.
Ergonomics Lighting- Monitor Brightness:
If the monitor is displayed with maximum brightness, you will have to strain your eyes more to view the objects on the screen clearly thus leading to eye fatigue.
- It is ideal to place lights parallel to your line of sight in different rows.
- Try to use light diffusers so that you can do the desk jobs like writing, reading papers etc. while limiting direct brightness on the computer screen.
- While using 4-bulb fluorescent light fixtures, it is ideal to remove the middle bulbs to reduce the brightness of the light to levels well suited with computer tasks, if diffusers or alternative light sources are not available.
Note: A standard florescent light fixture on a nine-foot ceiling with four, 40-watt bulbs will produce approximately 50 foot-candles of light at the desktop level.
- You need to have good desk lighting for proper illumination while writing and reading tasks thus limiting brightness around monitors.
- Generally, for paper tasks and offices with CRT displays, office lighting should range between 20 to 50 foot-candles. For LCD monitors, higher levels of light are usually needed for the same viewing tasks (up to 73 foot-candles).
Ergonomic Lighting: Light Source Behind The Display Screen
The light sources behind the display screen can create contrast problems, making it difficult to view the screen clearly.
- You can try using b linds or drapes on windows to eliminate bright light. The placement of blinds and furniture should be adjusted to allow light into the room, but not directly into your field of view.
Note: Vertical blinds are ideal for windows facing east/west directions and horizontal blinds are ideal for windows facing north/south directions.
- Indirect or shielded lighting can be used wherever possible. Try to avoid intense or uneven lighting in your field of vision. You should also ensure that lamps have glare shields or shades to direct light away from your line of sight.
- If the bright lights from open windows in your work area are at right angles with your computer screen, do change the orientation of your workstation.
Ergonomic Lighting [part2]-->