Page 74 - 6848

Costs of poor lighting to business
Poor lighting at work can represent a significant cost to business in the
form of:

 time off work as a result of accidents and injuries;
 increased absenteeism;
 reduced staff efficiency and productivity.

Who is responsible for lighting at work and what are their legal
responsibilities?
Employers, the self - employed and people in control of non - domestic
premises have a duty to ensure that lighting is safe and does not pose a health risk to
employees and others who may use their premises.

Employers are also required to consult their employees on health and safety
matters. Where safety representatives have been appointed by a recognised trade
union, it is part of their function to advise during the consultation process. Where
employees are not covered by a trade union - appointed safety representatives,
employers should consult employees directly or via representatives elected for this
purpose.

Employees also have a duty not to endanger their own or others' health and
safety while at work.

9.2 Factors that Determine Visual Comfort

The correct design of an illumination system should offer the optimal
conditions for visual comfort.
For the attainment of this goal, an early line of collaboration between
architects, lighting designers and those responsible for hygiene at the worksite
should be established.
This collaboration should precede the beginning of the project, to avoid errors that would
be difficult to correct once the project is completed.
Among the most important aspects that should be kept in mind are
 the type of lamp that will be used;
 the lighting system that will be installed;
 the distribution of luminance;
 illumination efficiencies;
 the spectral composition of light.

The fact that light and colour affect the productivity and the psycho-physiological well-
being of the worker should encourage the initiatives of illumination technicians, physiologists, and
ergonomists, to study and determine the most favourable conditions of light and colour at each
work station. The combination of illumination, the contrast of luminances, the colour of light, the

4