Improper placement of the monitor can cause neck, shoulder and back strain. The ideal viewing height is to have the top of the monitor approximately 2 – 3” above eye level and approximately 26” away from your eyes. There are two exceptions to this recommendation:

• Users who wear bifocals or trifocals may find it more comfortable to place the monitor slightly lower than recommended.
• Users who have monitors that are larger than 20” may find it more comfortable to raise the monitor slightly, so the top of the viewing area is approximately 3” above eye level.

Following are some helpful hints to remember when setting up your monitor.

Center the monitor: The monitor should be placed directly in front of you when in use. Keeping in mind the other workstation setup recommendations, it is important to keep the body as centered as possible when working. The eyes should be looking straight ahead at the monitor, not off to the side or up too high. This will enable the neck to maintain a neutral position and minimize the strain to the shoulders, neck and back. For those people who do not use the monitor frequently, a monitor swivel arm may be an appropriate modification. This would allow the user to swing the monitor into the proper position when its needed, and out of the way when not in use.

Manage the glare: One way to test if there is too much glare on the screen is to simply shut the monitor off and check to see if there is too much light reflecting off the black screen. If you cannot reposition the monitor to eliminate some of the glare, then an anti-glare screen may be helpful.

Clean the screen: Monitors gather dust, just like any other piece of furniture or equipment. Cleaning the monitor with a recommended solvent will help to remove any accumulated dust or fingerprints.