Office Lighting Safety Standards

9 July 2020

As an employer, it doesn’t sound like it would be such a big deal- but it’s clear that lighting in the office can pose significant issues to your employees.

Not only can it affect their productivity (have you ever tried to work on your computer when the sun has decided to say hello, all over your screen?), but it can also have long-term consequences to your employees’ health.

Some health issues include:

  • Eye strain/fatigue, leading to decreased vision over time
  • Headaches and Migraines
  • Poor posture due to adjusting to see properly, resulting in spinal issues

Some of the different hazards that could be affecting your workers:

  • Glare over workspace
  • Shadows cast over workspace
  • Reflections from a work surface
  • Harsh office lights that cannot be controlled
  • Flickering fluorescent lighting
  • Poorly placed lighting
  • Windows with no control: ie. no curtains

How to determine if there is a lighting hazard:

  • Think about the nature of your employees’ work; Are they drawing, typing, etc? Work on a computer will require the ambient light to be brighter than the computer screen for your workers’ comfort for example, but simply walking down a hallway will not require the same levels.
  • Observe the work environment; are there windows, existing lighting that is no longer suitable, relocated furniture that will require a lighting adjustment?
  • Consider the movement of natural light during the day.
  • Look for glare, reflections, light flicker, strobing, and shadows that might make your employees uncomfortable.
  • Don’t forget outdoor areas if you have them; loading a van at night or early morning will have very different requirements than the lighting inside the office.

Some solutions

  • Relocation of existing lighting
  • Automation of lighting
  • Customisation of Quality of Light - eg. cool vs warm light, dimmer vs strong light certain areas.
  • Increased control over the movement of lights and amount of light output.

You also may have concerns about how the adjustment in lighting will affect the aesthetics of your office fit-out.

We all have a duty under legislation to provide employees with a safe working environment, but it’s even more than that - don’t we want our workers to be comfortable, just like we would like that for ourselves? A light and bright workplace will keep them happy for longer, wanting to come back day after day. Now, isn’t that something to invest in?

Let us work with you to optimise your lighting. Contact us for a consultation.