MODIFICATION OF ARTCC M-1 CONSOLES CAUSE CTLR CONCERN OVER PHYSICAL HAZARD.

Narrative

BEGINNING FEB/XX/95; THE FAA BEGAN MODIFICATIONS OF THE M-1 CONSOLES PREPARING FOR VSCS. THE EQUIP IS INSTALLED 3 POS PER MID-SHIFT. THE VSCS EQUIP IS NOT OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME. THE NEW EQUIP HAS CAUSED A MAJOR CHANGE IN SECTOR CONFIGN; INCLUDING LIGHTING; SPACE AVAILABLE IN STRIP BAYS; VISIBILITY OF THE RADAR (MOSTLY WHEN STANDING AS HDOF CTLR); 'HEAD-STRIKE' HAZARD FROM NEW CONSOLES; AND COMS PROBS RESULTING FROM DISTURBING THE OLD 'CAA' EQUIP. SPECIFICALLY: 1) LIGHTING -- LOWER THAN OLD SETUP. CAUSES SHADOWS MAKING SOME STRIPS AT BOTTOM OF THE BAY NEARLY UNREADABLE. 2) SPACE IN STRIP BAYS -- ABOUT THE SAME ON D-SIDE; BUT MORE DIFFICULT TO UTILIZE. ON THE A- SIDE; STANDING MAKES REACHING THE BAYS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT; AS WELL AS A PROB WITH HITTING YOUR HEAD ON THE PROTRUDING CONSOLES ABOVE. REDUCED BAY SPACE AND A RECESSED PRINTER MAKE OPERATING THIS POS DIFFICULT. 3) VISIBILITY OF RADAR -- PROTRUDING OVERHEAD CONSOLES BLOCK 1/3 OF THE TOP OF RADAR FROM VIEW WHEN STANDING. ALSO; A DANGER OF A 'HEAD STRIKE.' OTHER-THAN-AT-THE-SECTOR LIGHTING CAUSE A SHADOW ACROSS THE DISPLAY. 4) 'HEAD STRIKE' (ALSO SEE #2) -- TO AVOID HITTING YOUR HEAD; BENDING IS REQUIRED. THIS CAUSES BACK STRAIN. SITTING IS AN OPTION; BUT THE WORKLOAD DEMANDS DIFFERENTLY. THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IS EXTREME. 5) 'CAA' EQUIPMENT -- YES; CIVIL AERONAUTIC ADMINISTRATION. THE RECONFIGN OF THE SECTORS; AND MOVEMENT OF THIS OLD EQUIP HAD DAMAGED THE FRAGILE WIRING; ETC. POTENTIAL COM FAILURES ARE LOOMING.