The 12-nation European Community adopted sweeping safety regulations for work with video display terminals this week, including periodic breaks and the right to regular eye examinations.
The mandatory rules also call for glare-free and swiveling screens, "adequate spacing" between characters and lines, and adjustable seats with a footrest if requested.The EC action is in the form of a directive, which requires each national government to adopt implementing legislation by Dec. 31, 1992. Display units put into service after that date must meet the new regulations, and existing equipment must be modified by the end of 1996.
"Compliance with the minimum requirements for ensuring a better level of safety at workstations with display screens is essential for ensuring the safety and health of workers," said the EC council of ministers, the group's decisionmaking body.
Britain abstained from the unanimous decision because it wanted the rules limited to display screens hooked to computers.