HSG38 Lighting at Work

To ensure lighting is suitable and sufficient, several aspects of lighting and the workplace need to be considered. 

These include:

• Lighting design

• Type of work

• The work environment

• Health aspects

• Individual requirements

• Lighting maintenance, replacement and disposal

• Emergency lighting

Both interior and exterior lighting need to achieve a reasonable uniform illuminance ( referenced to CIBSE Code for Lighting). 

Interior lighting should be split into 3 categories to ensure the space is appropriately lit:

• General 

• Localised

• Local

Individual requirements
It is important that employers take into account the needs of individuals when assessing their lighting requirements. This should improve employee comfort and well-being. 
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require employers, or those who have control over health and safety in the workplace, to take into account employees with additional needs. 

Emergency lighting levels
There are two types of emergency lighting: 
Standby - which enables people to continue working safely; 
Escape - which enables people to leave a building safely.

The illuminance needed for standby lighting depends on the work activity. It may be between 5% and 100% of the illuminance produced by the normal lighting. 

The illuminances required for escape lighting are given in BS 5266 Part 1: Emergency lighting