Workplace lighting has been a pivotal feature of everyday life for more than 100 years. Our modern lifestyle is not viable without lighting. But how do we ensure it does not introduce hazards in the workplace?
Lighting is used for many different purposes: to ensure visual work can be done accurately, safely and in comfort, increase timely production, enhance security, prevent eye disorder of worker, make the workplace an attractive and pleasant environment.
In a report published by the ILO also entitled “Physical Hazards Indoor Workplace Lighting”, there are several provisions for good lighting in the work environment. Among others
- Take advantage of daylight at work.
- Choose an appropriate visual background (walls, ceilings, etc.)
- Choose the best workplace based on the light source and avoid glare.
- Use additional lighting as appropriate.
- Avoid shadows.
- Perform routine cleaning and maintenance of lights and windows.
Appropriate lighting and lighting controls, including the provision of emergency lighting, are crucial to enable the workforce to perform its activities and to move around safely. Inadequate lighting can make it difficult to see clearly and may contribute to hazards such as slips, trips and falls, while excessive lighting can cause discomfort and may mask otherwise obvious hazards through dazzling workers. The primary purpose of adequate lighting is to ensure that visual tasks are carried out quickly, safely and accurately. Providing appropriate and sufficient light levels and contrasts in the workplace can helps to reduce negative health impact. Improvements in lighting conditions can result in as much as 10% productivity gains and 30% reduction of errors.