City Council Committee Supports VDT Regulation

A campaign to regulate the use of video-display terminals in the workplace scored a key political victory Wednesday as a Los Angeles City Council committee endorsed the creation of an ordinance that would require employers to implement safeguards against VDT-related injuries.

The Human Resources and Labor Relations Committee instructed the city attorney to draft an ordinance that is expected to require employers to provide adjustable chairs, screen filters, training and rest periods for VDT users.

Union representatives hailed the committee’s support for the ordinance, saying many employers have been slow to recognize the hazards of VDT use, including eye strain, headaches and repetitive motion injuries such as wrist inflammation. But industry officials were disappointed, saying they favor a state law that would eliminate the prospect of varying local ordinances creating a confusing array of regulations.