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Visual Ergonomics Risk Assessment – VERAM

Why is visual ergonomics important?

The visual environment affects us in many ways. Almost half of us are more sensitive to visual stimuli than others and thus have a higher degree of eyestrain, headaches, neck and shoulder discomfort. There is a direct link between eyestrain and neck and shoulder problems when we have to strain our eyes for close-up work. This increases the muscle activity in the neck and shoulders, which can result in pain and discomfort. Poor lighting can cause headaches and eyestrain. Glare from light fixtures is the most common visual ergonomic problem in the workplace; as soon as a light fixture or other light source is perceived as being too strong in relation to the background setting, this can lead to problems. Flicker from light fixtures, or temporal light modulations (even called non-visual flicker) also can influence our sense of well-being. A poorly designed visual environment negatively affects productivity. It can also result in perceived strain, such as eyestrain, headaches and musculoskeletal discomfort. A visual ergonomics risk assessment is relevant in order to achieve a stainable, healthy workplace.

Visual ergonomics risk assessment

Since 2014 EAT has carried out visual ergonomics risk assessment research, financed by AFA Insurance. A visual ergonomics risk assessment method has been developed in collaboration with researchers and practitioners in various areas such as ergonomics, luminance, lighting and work environment.    

The method is web-based and is called VERAM. This method has been developed in cooperation with people working in occupational health services. The group primarily consists of ergonomists and work environment engineers who have taken a course in visual ergonomics and who have then evaluated and tested the method at a number of workplaces. As a result, we have come up with a valid and reliable method.  

The method consists of five parts:

  1. A subjective evaluation where employees fill in a questionnaire about problems such as eyestrain, headaches and musculoskeletal discomfort, and how they experience their workplace surroundings.
  2. An objective part with physical measurements of illuminances and luminances.
  3. An objective risk assessment of the visual environment partially linked to red (high risk), yellow (risk) and green (none/low risk) in several different areas such as light distribution (indirect/direct lighting), illuminance in the work area, glare, design of the work object/computer, flicker and work positions. 
  4. A follow-up where the subjective answers are discussed in conjunction with the objective risk assessment.
  5. A final part with proposed measures focused on those for lighting, daylight, work object design, etc., but also referrals for glasses or other musculoskeletal ergonomics risk assessments.

Today we have approximately 100 people from occupational health services trained in visual ergonomics risk assessment throughout Sweden. We are currently in the process of developing a screening version of VERAM called VERAMlight. With this, one will be able to determine which of the objective risks are most relevant to achieve a sustainable, healthy, productive workplace.

Commission course

To be able to use VERAM, one needs to complete a course in visual ergonomics risk assessment. Such a course is currently provided at the Centre for Work Environment and Leadership at Lund University. Currently, the course is only offered in Swedish.

Page Manager: info@design.lth.se | 2022-11-22
light bulb with flicker lines in the image. Photo.

Checklist for visual ergonomics

Download the checklist (PDF, 177 kB)

Contact

Hillevi Hemphälä

researcher
hillevi.hemphala@design.lth.se