Monitor adjustments and proper setup for control room users

Screen positioning in a control room will depend on the needs of the workstation and the comfort of the operators who must maintain a high degree of concentration. An improper setup will result in work-related injuries and increased burnout. As a manufacturer of control room furniture, we have seen many successful implementations of multiple monitor layouts adapted to different industries and workflows. We have put together this simple guide you can follow to review your monitor setup.

PART 1: Guidelines for monitor setup.

Source: Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety.

Proper position is determined by two factors, the viewing angle and the viewing distance.

1. The viewing angle is determined by the invisible horizontal line connecting the viewer's eyes and the centre of the object being looked at, which in this case is a monitor. According to researchers, the optimal viewing angle to range from about 15 degrees to almost 30 degrees.

   
   

2. The right viewing distance is the one at which the computer operator can easily read the screen without experiencing eyestrain. This is always subjective to the user of the workstation and what is correct can change over time due to age. Generally speaking, an arm’s length is a good estimation which leaves only some minor personal adjustments.

PART 2: Adjustments for multiple monitors.

Using multiple monitors can increase productivity but it can also increase work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Screen positioning of multiple monitors is important because depending on how the monitors are laid out, you may have to swivel your head left and right or up and down repeatedly. Other adverse effects of a poorly located monitor are eye irritation, blurred vision, dry burning eyes and headaches, collectively called eyestrain.

While still following the recommendations for a single monitor, the challenge is reducing head and body twisting and eye travel.

First, determine how much you use each monitor.  Do you use one more than the other(s)?

If you use all monitors equally:

• Position the monitors in front of you with the edges touching.

• Place the monitors at an angle, creating a semi-circle.

If you use one monitor more often :

• Place the monitor you use most directly in front of you as if it were a single monitor.

• Place the secondary monitor on one side, and at an angle (half of a semi-circle).

PART 3: Monitor layouts that we recommend for control room consoles.

Dual monitor setups are tricky. Parallel to each other and centered on my desk. Aesthetically pleasing, not the most optimal for productivity or ergonomic. With the bezel in the middle you will spend most of your time with your head turned to the left or right.

Dual monitor setup.

Even if you position your chair to one side and focus on only one monitor. The second monitor will be off-angle and will become hard to see. The best way to fix this is to place one monitor directly in front of you and the second monitor at an off angle, leaving it for low priority and infrequent applications. While the most important applications are done on the main monitor.

By having one monitor be the main focus of your setup, you decrease the neck movement you have to perform every time you switch your focus which will help to reduce neck strain in the long run.

Alternatively, it is quite popular to use the second monitor in portrait orientation, however this can be inconvenient because the secondary monitor can force you to move your neck up and down if it is too large. But with a monitor that matches the height of the main monitor it can simply blend into the side and serve as a perfect companion screen. Ideal for reading documentation, opening communication applications, secondary tools for short periods of time and monitoring dashboards.

Example of main monitor in the middle of the console.

Next is the stack setup. It requires equipment to setup two rows of monitors, and it requires you to look up. That is why the middle of bezels of both monitors must be positioned at eye level, so operators can simply move their eyes up and down instead of moving their neck up and down. This is a good idea if your main display is larger than the second one.

Example of a stack setup.

A triple setup relies on having a main monitor right in front of you with 2 secondary monitors to the sides. They can be placed horizontally or in portrait orientation. While they can all be the same size, a popular option is to have the main monitor be larger than the secondary ones, for example in EMS control rooms the main monitors are 45-inch monitors and the secondary one’s range between 24 to 27 inch.

Example of a triple monitor setup.

Want to build a new control room setup?

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