Computer projectors — advice from the HSE
Along with the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for regulating the risks to people's health and safety in the workplace.
The HSE offers guidelines for the safe use of computer projectors in the classroom.
Computer projectors, which are used to show presentations or to illuminate interactive whiteboards, can expose the eye to levels above one of the exposure limits by which the HSE takes its guidance. Therefore, although such exposure limits are not statutory, the HSE considers the following advice to be good practice in respect of the use of these projectors by employers in the education sector.
Guidelines
Employers should establish work procedures for teachers/lecturers and pupils/students and give instruction on their adoption so that:
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Staring directly into the projector beam is avoided at all times.
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Standing facing into the beam is minimised. Users, especially pupils and students, 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.
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