Health and
Safety Advice
Interactive whiteboards are a tool which can
assist teachers in delivering exciting and engaging
lessons to learners of all ages and abilities.
They enable teachers to deliver lessons interactively
using a variety of methods, including video clips,
use of the internet, interactive presentations,
colour visuals and traditional blackboard skills.
Additionally, they allow for manipulation of
text, objects, and calculations by pupils/students
as well as teachers.
Safety issues relating to the
use of interactive whiteboards are clearly highlighted
on both the Becta and DfES websites, based upon
HSE guidance. The sites outline simple measures
to take to ensure that the equipment is being used
appropriately. In addition, guidance material has
been distributed to all LEAs.
Guidance on safety issues is provided on the following websites:
Safety Note on Using Interactive Whiteboards
in the Classroom
All suppliers of interactive whiteboards are
required to provide health and safety advice regarding
the safe use of projectors which complies with
requirements under section 6 of the Health and
Safety at Work Act.
It is important to be aware of the health and
safety implications of using projection equipment,
such as interactive whiteboards, in the classroom,
particularly if children and teachers might be
standing in front of the beam to present to the
rest of the class. All projectors, if misused,
have the potential to cause eye injury, and hence
some simple guidelines should be followed:
- It must be made clear to all users that no one should stare directly into the beam of the projector.
- When entering the beam, users should not look towards the audience for more than a few seconds.
- Users should be encouraged to keep their backs to the projector beam when stood in the beam.
- Children should be supervised at all times during the operation of the projector.
It is generally accepted that a maximum of 1500 ANSI lumens is adequate for projection equipment in most classroom environments, except in the most extreme ambient lighting conditions, where it is advised that window blinds are used rather than increasing the brightness of the projector.
When purchasing or using projectors for purposes where there is likely to be a person standing in front of the beam, consideration should be given to the use of a method of brightness reduction, such as a neutral density filter or brightness adjustment facility. These modifications can be removed or adjusted for other purposes such as cinema projections, where there is not an intention that someone will be stood in front of the beam, so allowing the projector to be used to its full image quality potential.
It is recommended that health and safety notices are posted adjacent to interactive whiteboards. Although the content or posting of such notices is not a requirement under law, it should be considered as best practice.
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. This information is also available on the DfES website.
The HSE offers the following 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:
- Staring directly into the projector beam is
avoided at all times.
- 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."
Who is responsible for ICT health and safety responsibility in schools?
LEAs or Governing bodies retain overall responsibility for health and safety management, which also includes ICT health and safety in Schools.
LEAs/Governing bodies may delegate certain tasks to schools including risk assessment, however, it is often the head teacher or classroom teacher who holds the day-to-day responsibility to ensure that ICT equipment is used correctly and safely.
Information relating to the safe operation and use of projection equipment must be provided by the suppliers with all installations, especially in relation to beam viewing by teachers and pupils/students etc.