Lighting

Lighting at workplace

Workplace lighting must be adequate and must not dazzle the employee. The glare of light is caused by excessively bright areas of the field of vision. The light must be directed in such a way that no disturbing shadows are created. Large differences in brightness as the employee moves from one room or part of the room to another and the flicker of the light flowing from the light source must be avoided.

Ensuring adequate lighting in the workplace is the responsibility of the employer. Insufficient lighting can lead to accidents at work, eye fatigue and impaired vision. Excessive luminance, bright light, and a light source with an inappropriate spectrum can also cause eye fatigue, visual impairment, and general fatigue, as well as accidents at work.

If the workplace lighting is in accordance with the standard EVS-EN 12464-1 ‘Light and lighting – Lighting of workplaces – Part 1: Indoor workplaces’, it can be presumed that the indoor lighting requirements of the workplace are met. If necessary, the lighting of the workplace must be increased according to the employee's age or state of health.

The amount of light produced decreases as the light source ages. The amount of light is reduced by wear of the light source, smudged luminaire, smudged wall surface, smudged reflection and anti-reflection devices. Poor backlighting and lack of spot lighting cause an incorrect working position and fatigue, as well as reduce work quality and productivity.

The backlight must ensure an even distribution of light throughout the room. The illuminance must be appropriate to the nature of the work. Working with small particles or components requires a higher illuminance. The colour scheme of the room is also important – floors, walls and ceilings should be in light colours.

The illuminance of indoor workplaces must be measured in the area of performing the work tasks. The establishment's working environment specialist, who is adequately competent, can check the illuminance with a measuring instrument.

Indoors, the recommended illuminance is:

• in moving areas and corridors – 100 lx
• on stairs and loading platforms – 150 lx.

In outdoor conditions, the recommended illuminance concerns pedestrians only:

• on sidewalks – 5 lx
• in the movement area of vehicles – 20 lx
• on pedestrian crossings and at loading/unloading points – 50 lx.

Further reading: Non-binding guide to good practice for implementing Directive 2006/25/EC (artificial optical radiation)