Narrative:

I was receiving the position relief briefing from the controller who was working arrival west (arw). During the course of the briefing; it occurred to me that the TRACON radar room was extremely bright. Upon further examination; I discovered that all of the overhead lights were on; and the lights over each stars display were on. I asked the controller providing the briefing if there was a reason that all of the lights were on; and was informed that 'this is the new thing.' apparently one of our management officials tripped over a chair while walking in the TRACON; and there is a verbal mandate to have the lights on for better visibility. After assuming responsibility for the position I entered my preference set for arw and further adjusted my display for the particular runway/airspace confign. During this process I encountered an extreme glare on my stars display. This glare resulted directly from the lights that were on 'high' over my position and the lights that were on 'high' over the center walkway of the TRACON. This glare resulted in reflections of the numerous computer monitor screens; the backs of 2 computer monitors; each and every individual who walked behind my position; as well as the reflection of each overhead light installed in the center of the room. The glare causes my eyes to constantly change focus from the glare to the alphanumerics; from the glare to the map; from the display; and then back to other reflected objects that are behind my position. I consider this an unsafe situation; and we need to go back to work conditions that allow controllers to best see and utilize the stars equipment. I have expressed concern to local management about this issue in the past; but my comments have been met with blank stares and no action.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MEM TRACON CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING NEW MGMNT LIGHTING POLICY IN THE TRACON CAUSING GLARING ON THE STARS DISPLAYS.

Narrative: I WAS RECEIVING THE POS RELIEF BRIEFING FROM THE CTLR WHO WAS WORKING ARR W (ARW). DURING THE COURSE OF THE BRIEFING; IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT THE TRACON RADAR ROOM WAS EXTREMELY BRIGHT. UPON FURTHER EXAM; I DISCOVERED THAT ALL OF THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS WERE ON; AND THE LIGHTS OVER EACH STARS DISPLAY WERE ON. I ASKED THE CTLR PROVIDING THE BRIEFING IF THERE WAS A REASON THAT ALL OF THE LIGHTS WERE ON; AND WAS INFORMED THAT 'THIS IS THE NEW THING.' APPARENTLY ONE OF OUR MGMNT OFFICIALS TRIPPED OVER A CHAIR WHILE WALKING IN THE TRACON; AND THERE IS A VERBAL MANDATE TO HAVE THE LIGHTS ON FOR BETTER VISIBILITY. AFTER ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE POS I ENTERED MY PREFERENCE SET FOR ARW AND FURTHER ADJUSTED MY DISPLAY FOR THE PARTICULAR RWY/AIRSPACE CONFIGN. DURING THIS PROCESS I ENCOUNTERED AN EXTREME GLARE ON MY STARS DISPLAY. THIS GLARE RESULTED DIRECTLY FROM THE LIGHTS THAT WERE ON 'HIGH' OVER MY POS AND THE LIGHTS THAT WERE ON 'HIGH' OVER THE CTR WALKWAY OF THE TRACON. THIS GLARE RESULTED IN REFLECTIONS OF THE NUMEROUS COMPUTER MONITOR SCREENS; THE BACKS OF 2 COMPUTER MONITORS; EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHO WALKED BEHIND MY POS; AS WELL AS THE REFLECTION OF EACH OVERHEAD LIGHT INSTALLED IN THE CTR OF THE ROOM. THE GLARE CAUSES MY EYES TO CONSTANTLY CHANGE FOCUS FROM THE GLARE TO THE ALPHANUMERICS; FROM THE GLARE TO THE MAP; FROM THE DISPLAY; AND THEN BACK TO OTHER REFLECTED OBJECTS THAT ARE BEHIND MY POS. I CONSIDER THIS AN UNSAFE SITUATION; AND WE NEED TO GO BACK TO WORK CONDITIONS THAT ALLOW CTLRS TO BEST SEE AND UTILIZE THE STARS EQUIP. I HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN TO LCL MGMNT ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN THE PAST; BUT MY COMMENTS HAVE BEEN MET WITH BLANK STARES AND NO ACTION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.