5 WARNING SIGNS YOUR LIGHTING NEEDS TO BE CHECKED

4955 AVALON RIDGE PKWY #100, NORCROSS, GA 30071 | (770) 449-0200 | WWW.CCELECT.COM

Keeping employees and customers safe is a top priority for business owners and property managers. Lighting, unfortunately, is one of the most overlooked workplace factors when determining what potential hazards to eliminate. Improper workplace lighting, both inside in the workspace and outside in parking structures causes hundreds of accidents and injuries each year. 1

Studies have shown that lighting plays an important factor in the physical and mental well-being of employees and can be a critical factor in the motivation and productivity of employees in the workplace. 2

Elaborate light fixtures can be a great aesthetic addition to a lobby or even in an open office space, but the placement of lights, their brightness, and their impact on employees (positive or negatively) should also be considered.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) outlines specific lighting requirements to ensure employees’ workplace safety to prevent injuries, falls, and to aid in the safe movement during an emergency.

OSHA’s Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations details the intensity (in candle-feet) and type of light required for various types of work and workplace environments.

There are three lighting types: • General lighting – this is the light spread evenly in your workplace; • Task lighting – this light is focused lighting used to complete detail-oriented tasks; and• Emergency lighting – this light is reserved and only used when regular lighting is unavailable

due to a fire or power outage.

To stay in compliance with OSHA regulations, general lighting must be at least 30 candle-feet in intensity, task lighting can range depending on the tasks that are being performed and emergency lighting must be at least five candle-feet in illumination.3

If lighting is not kept at the proper levels, it could have lasting effects on the health and overall productivity of employees in the workplace. Here are five warning signs that building lighting may not be sufficient and should be checked to prevent a larger, more widespread, and longer-term issue.

5 Warning Signs Your Lighting Needs to Be Checked

Improper lighting can manifest itself in the form of physical ailments. These aliments can include dizziness, headaches, vomiting, and even momentary blindness – especially in areas where light is too bright. If some areas of your workspace are very dark while others are very bright, moving in and out of these areas throughout the day can put great strain on the eyes. When in dark light, the pupils dilate to let more light in, but when dilated eyes are suddenly exposed to very bright light, the pupils quickly try to close to prevent damage to the sensitive structures in the eye. This constant adjustment of the eye and the eye muscles can eventually lead to eye strain and more permanent eye damage.

WARNING SIGN Employees complain of frequent headaches or dizziness while at work#1

One sign of unbalanced lighting is extremely bright areas in some spots, but very dark areas in other spots. This is especially true in parking areas and around the exterior of the building. There should be an even distribution of light throughout the building and outside in the parking structures. Having pockets of dark areas and light areas make it hard for employees and customers to easily navigate in and out of these areas and may welcome unwanted events like vandalism and theft.

WARNING SIGN The lighting is unbalanced#2

Are there several lights that flicker at the same time and do this often throughout the day? If so this is likely caused by power arcing. This is a potentially dangerous problem as it signals a major wiring concern. Power arcing also generates significant heat which in some cases can cause a fire.5 While lights that flicker or dim when other equipment is being used is a normal occurrence to help balance the needs for electricity at that moment, long-term light flickering should be investigated further. In addition, employees that may be prone to headaches or seizures could be adversely affected with this flickering, strobe light-like effect

WARNING SIGN The lights flicker simultaneously#3

Proper lighting is also an important component in influencing workplace efficiency. When the days get shorter in the winter, some employees may be affected by seasonal affective disorder which results in a depressed mood and lower workplace productivity. Studies have shown that proper lighting indoors and having a good balance of artificial light and natural light can help these employees stay productive despite the shorter, darker days.6 Having appropriately bright lights in work areas have been known to boost productivity for even those employees who do not have seasonal affective disorder.

WARNING SIGN Workplace productivity is lower than usual#4

If employees are sitting in strange positions or have to take work to other parts of the building to complete what should be able to be done at their desks, then improper lighting may be to blame. When task lighting – the lighting needed to see the work that has to be completed – is too dim, employees will often try angling their bodies to maximize the limited overhead light. This is a health hazard and can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, back and neck strain, and fatigue.7

WARNING SIGN Employees assume awkward positions to get work done#5

Summary

It is recommended every year that facility and property managers conduct a lighting evaluation to ensure that the lighting in workplaces and parking structures is sufficient. Lighting not only helps to prevent injuries by allowing employees and customers to freely and safely move around the building, but it places a crucial role in workplace productivity. While flickering lights can be a sign of a more dangerous wiring issue, frequent complaints of headaches, eye strain, and neck/back pain can also be more subtle signs that the lighting in work areas is not bright enough – or is too bright. The impact of poor lighting should not be overlooked and must be remedied, if any of the five warning signs above are present.

1 http://smallbusiness.chron.com/requirements-workplace-lighting-2652.html2 http://www.safety.com/articles/importance-workplace-lighting3 https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=106124 http://www.hsimagazine.com/article.php?article_id=7225 http://enlightenme.com/flickering-lights/6 http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/seasonal-affective-disorder-bring-on-the-light-2012122156637 http://www.unh.edu/health-services/ohep/physical-wellness/ergonomics

4955 AVALON RIDGE PKWY #100, NORCROSS, GA 30071 | (770) 449-0200 | WWW.CCELECT.COM