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bradf  
#1 Posted : 28 June 2022 13:04:36(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
bradf

Our IT manager has come to me today for advice and i cant find much on this.  He has been informed in his circles that in our office he would be better off having one large mointor (that can function as two eg split screen etc) rather than two separate monitors and that guidance is changing to recommend using one montior as the split/gap between the monitor can "cause issues"

Post covid we are all returning to the office, and equipment is being refreshed in the coming weeks.  I'd hate for us to update our equipment only to be told guidance is changing.

I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. 

A Kurdziel  
#2 Posted : 28 June 2022 14:50:28(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

The guidance for DSE from the HSE has not changed for something like 20 years. The pictures in it  still shows monitor as great lumbering things based on a CRT!  No flat screens and the idea of a person having more than one monitor is assumed to be in the realms of star trek the next generation.

In the current climate of cutting red tape etc the HSE is not going to issue any new guidance about monitors etc. As the imager where he heard about this new guidance about one big screen being better that one. Personally I have been  used two screens for 15 years(man and boy!) and would not go back to one screen no matter how big  a screen I was offered. Perhaps someone some where is trying to suggest that one screen is cheaper than two screens?

thanks 1 user thanked A Kurdziel for this useful post.
bradf on 28/06/2022(UTC)
bradf  
#3 Posted : 28 June 2022 14:57:42(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
bradf

Originally Posted by: A Kurdziel Go to Quoted Post

The guidance for DSE from the HSE has not changed for something like 20 years. The pictures in it  still shows monitor as great lumbering things based on a CRT!  No flat screens and the idea of a person having more than one monitor is assumed to be in the realms of star trek the next generation.

In the current climate of cutting red tape etc the HSE is not going to issue any new guidance about monitors etc. As the imager where he heard about this new guidance about one big screen being better that one. Personally I have been  used two screens for 15 years(man and boy!) and would not go back to one screen no matter how big  a screen I was offered. Perhaps someone some where is trying to suggest that one screen is cheaper than two screens?

Thanks - it's very likely price is pushing the agenda here, when i couldnt find any hints at this being updated i thought it was worth a check on here.  I'll contiune to support the use of dual screens here.  Looking through DSE assessments and incidents i cant see any history of issues 

Holliday42333  
#4 Posted : 28 June 2022 15:44:32(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Holliday42333

I'm with AK.  The chance of HSE spending time and money updating the wildly out of date DSE guidance when there is negligable risk (in the big picture) is as close to zero as its possible to get.

The last couple of years I have been largely working from home on one screen, due to space constraints.  Doesn't cause enough of a problem to make me want to take up a desk in the office but, no matter how big the single screen is, two screens are far more user friendly than one.

Edited by user 28 June 2022 15:45:07(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

thanks 1 user thanked Holliday42333 for this useful post.
bradf on 29/06/2022(UTC)
Roundtuit  
#5 Posted : 28 June 2022 17:48:44(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

The screens being described are obviously more expensive than a single unit but often more expensive than two identical smaller monitors and you are right someone is looking for help pushing through increased capital expenditure under the guise of H&S.

Technically there are arguments for a single unit - one power lead, one display connection, uniform refresh rate, no gap or bezel to look between

as well as against - expensive to manufacture / repair / replace, newer units have high refresh rates and with identical units flicker between is minimal, much heavier and less stable, the distance between screen and user is set by the manufacturing arc whereas with two screens the user can set the position.

thanks 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
bradf on 29/06/2022(UTC), bradf on 29/06/2022(UTC)
Roundtuit  
#6 Posted : 28 June 2022 17:48:44(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

The screens being described are obviously more expensive than a single unit but often more expensive than two identical smaller monitors and you are right someone is looking for help pushing through increased capital expenditure under the guise of H&S.

Technically there are arguments for a single unit - one power lead, one display connection, uniform refresh rate, no gap or bezel to look between

as well as against - expensive to manufacture / repair / replace, newer units have high refresh rates and with identical units flicker between is minimal, much heavier and less stable, the distance between screen and user is set by the manufacturing arc whereas with two screens the user can set the position.

thanks 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
bradf on 29/06/2022(UTC), bradf on 29/06/2022(UTC)
andybz  
#7 Posted : 29 June 2022 06:53:55(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
andybz

If the plan is to use a single large screen with a standard aspect ration (i.e. width:height 16:9) the problems are that viewing distances to the edges centre will be quite a bit more than to the centre. Also, people will be tempted to use the full height of the screen meaning they will be looking up and putting strain on their neck.

If the plan is to use one of the supper wide curved monitors I can't see any issues.

thanks 1 user thanked andybz for this useful post.
bradf on 29/06/2022(UTC)
HSSnail  
#8 Posted : 29 June 2022 07:12:01(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
HSSnail

Agree with whats been said before - i find this guidance useful How to set up dual monitors for efficiency & comfort | Posturite  Posturite are not cheep but their advice is usaly very good. For me i think one mistake people make with duel screens is trying to use two single arms - which makes set up very difficult. An employer i worked for did that and the screens were horribe. Same old story spend a little more on the right kit and you will save a fortune!

thanks 1 user thanked HSSnail for this useful post.
bradf on 29/06/2022(UTC)
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