Laser Safety & Interactive Whiteboards

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Safe use of Data Projectors

There is a small risk that data projectors, used to show presentations or to illuminate interactive whiteboards, can harm the eyes. There is no risk to audiences looking at an image projected on to a screen but only a very low risk to presenters whose peripheral eyesight could be harmed by looking into the projector lens.

The Health & Safety Executive recommends the following good practice by employers in the education sector to minimise the risk of harm and the University requires everyone to adopt the following practice:

Staring directly into the projector beam is to be avoided at all times.
Standing facing into the beam is to be minimised. All users, staff or students, should try to keep their backs to the beam as much as possible.
A stick or laser pointer should be used to avoid the need for the user to enter the beam.
Students must be adequately supervised when they are asked to point out something on the screen.
Under no circumstances should anyone, staff student or University visitor use the projector beam to project an image onto themselves (or to act as a backdrop whilst they perform in front of the beam).

The University will seek wherever practicable 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.

Where projectors are provided, room blinds should always be used to reduce ambient light levels to minimise the lamp power needed to project a visible presentation.

Further information is available from The Head of Media Services (Ext. 6705). or the Health & Safety Officer (ext. 6613)

Web sources on Data Projector risks include:

Health & Safety Executive

HSE Guidelines

National Union of Teachers

NUT Guidelines