Potential Health Hazards of Video Display Terminals, Blue Shield of California, San Francisco, California

摘要

Health hazards of video display terminals (VDT) were assessed at Blue Shield of California (SIC-6321), San Francisco, California in November, 1979. Radiation levels from VDTs were well below current exposure standards. Hydrocarbons ranged from 1.4 to 2.0 parts per million (ppm) in the VDT areas, well below NIOSH standards of 35ppm. Questionnaires from 77 VDT operators and 40 other workers were amassed. Fifty percent of the operators reported visual complaints. Psychological complaints were reported by 50 percent of operators in 7 of 10 categories, and 4 of 11 gastrointestinal complaints were reported by 50 percent of operators. No disease states were reported by a significant number of operators. Measured illumination was generally acceptable, but glare was a problem at many VDT stations. Problems were seen with the physical dimensions of the work stations, excessive keyboard height, and screen height. The authors recommend adjustable keyboards and screens for height, brightness, and contrast.