HC Deb 24 May 1990 vol 173 cc314-5W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the present analysis of the potential health implications resulting from prolonged exposure to VDUs.

Mr. Nicholls

Visual display units in themselves are not a hazard to health. Prolonged work at a VDU can cause some people to experience problems such as headaches, temporary eyestrain, or pain and sometimes disorder in the hands and arms; but none of these are specific to VDU work. They can be avoided by ergonomic design of furniture, equipment and lighting; and by good design of work tasks to allow changes of activity and avoid prolonged spells without changes in posture.