Safe Computing Bibliography

LITERATURE:

Labor Occupational Health Program
University of California, 2521 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94720; (415) 642-5507.
A clearinghouse for job safety and health information. Publishes a variety of literature, including the following free fact sheets: Reproductive Hazards and VDTs, Visual Problems, Musculo-Skeletal Problems and Ergonomics (which includes a useful diagram of proper seating and viewing angles), VDTs and Job Stress, and VDTs, Radiation, and Reproductive Risk. A more comprehensive packet of information, running some 100 pages, VDTs May Be Hazardous to Your Health, sells for $8.00.

The New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH, 275 Seventh Ave., 25th Floor, New York, NY 10001; (212) 627-3900) publishes several books on computer and office safety. Among them:
The VDT Book: A Computer User's Guide to Health and Safety
By Mark Pinsky
$5.00
Terminal Shock: The Health Hazards of Video Display Terminals
By Bob De Matteo
$12.00


VDT News: The VDT Health and Safety Report
A bimonthly newsletter of news and information. $87.00 year. P.O. Box 1799, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163.

American National Standard for Human Factors Engineering of Visual Display Terminal Workstations
Human Factors Society, Inc. P.O. Box 1369, Santa Monica, CA 90406; (310) 394-1811; $25.00.

Health Hazard: Could Your Computer Be Killing You?
Macworld: The Macintosh Magazine. July, 1990. Issue devoted to health hazards; out of print.

Warning: Computing Can be Hazardous to Your Health
Macworld: The Macintosh Magazine, January, 1990; 150-157
$6.00 from Back Issues of Macworld, 144 Townsend St., San Francisco, CA 94107; (415) 243-0505.

The Big Question: Is the PC Environment a Safe Place to Work?
PC Magazine, December 12, 1989; 275-297.
Back issues available for $8.00 from PC Magazine Back Issues Dept., Ziff-Davis Pub. Co., P.O. Box 53131, Boulder, CO 80322-3131; (800) 289-0429.

Safe Computing: Ergonomics, Computer Legislation and Work
By Michael Robin
Microtimes, May 27, 1991; 36-42. Covers computer related injuries, ergonomics and solutions; includes a short bibliography of resources.
Back copies available for $2.00 from Microtimes, 1800 N. Highland Ave., Suite 506, Hollywood, CA 90028; (213) 467-7878.

Currents of Death: Power Lines, Computer Terminals, and the Attempt to Cover Up Their Threat to Your Health
By Paul Brodeur
NY: Simon and Schuster, 1989; $19.95.

Your Guide to Health and Productivity In Today's VDT Intensive Environment
Hamilton Sorter Co., Inc., 3158 Production Drive, P.O. Box 8, Fairfield, OH 45014; (513) 870-4400.
Free
A nicely designed booklet with a VDT users checklist, ergonomics information, and exercises.

VDT Health Hazards
A pamphlet discussing the health hazards (radiation) from VDTs.
Free
The NoRad Corporation, 1549 11th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401; (213) 395-0800; (800) 262-3260.

Video Display Terminals as a Source of Electromagnetic Radiation
A pamphlet discussing the health hazards (radiation) from VDTs.
Free
The NoRad Corporation, 1549 11th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401; (213) 395-0800; (800) 262-3260.

Zap!
How Your Computer Can Hurt You--And What You Can Do About It
By Don Sellers
Peachpit Press: (800) 283-9444, 1994; $12.95
A comprehensive directory of computer-related health problems and suggested remedies and preventative tips. Includes an extensive list of resources.


PRODUCTS:

VDT SHIELDS (to help eliminate some of the harmful electromagnetic radiation emitted from the front of VDTs. The filters are not cheap: they range from $99.00 to $139.00)

The NoRad Corporation, 1549 11th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401; (213) 395-0800; (800) 262-3260.
After some investigation, we purchased NoRad shields for our computers: the look and feel of quality work was most impressive. In addition, the company has devised another product, the ELF Protech, which is said to eliminate most of the rest of the harmful radiation not eliminated by their VDT shields.

Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc. Glare/Guard Products, 2789 Northpoint Parkway, Santa Rosa, CA 95407-7397; (800) 545-6254.

Kantek Inc., 15 Main Street, East Rockaway, NY 11518; (800) 536-3212; (516) 593-3212.

WRIST PADS (to help lessen the risk of repetitive stress injury while typing. Price range: $8.50 to $19.95)

Wristsaver: A wrist pad made of soft neoprene rubber over a specially contoured plastic base (with a washable nylon covering), 18 inches long by 3 inches wide, which helps angle your wrist into a safer typing position. By cradling and raising your wrist, the Wristsaver helps relieve typing fatigue and reduces the risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The company also manufactures a wrist rest for mice (Wristsaver Mousepad), a Wristsaver Drawerpad (for keyboards located in under desk drawers), and a Table-Xtender pad. We have purchased the company's products for use at our office.
L.B. Innovators, Inc., 2524 Main Street, Suite H, Chula Vista, CA 92011; (619) 423-6644.

Computer Coverup: Also manufacture a line of wrist pads, made of foam covered in washable vinyl. The wrist rests are either stand alone units or fitted onto a pad that slips under most keyboards.
Computer Coverup, 2762 N. Clybourn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614; (312) 327-9200.

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