Poor lighting can contribute to various workplace accidents and issues. In Australia, ensuring adequate site lighting safety is essential, with lighting-related incidents accounting for a significant portion of workplace injuries.
- Inadequate illumination: This occurs when there’s insufficient light or non-uniform lighting across a work area. It can make it difficult to read instructions, spot slip or trip hazards, and maintain alertness during night shifts. LED technology can provide energy efficiency, long life, and consistent lighting.
- Excessive illumination: Over-illumination may result in excessive glare or reflection, causing discomfort, headaches, and reduced visibility. For instance, a local business switched from 150-watt highbays to 100-watt highbays to solve glare issues on stainless steel workbenches without compromising light quality.
- Uneven colour temperature: Light sources with different colour temperatures can affect the visual consistency of a workspace, causing discomfort and reducing the ability to distinguish objects. Harmonizing colour temperatures in a workspace can prevent these issues and enhance worker productivity.
- Emergency exit signage: It’s crucial to ensure emergency exit signs and safety signs operate correctly during emergencies. Australian Standards require commercial and industrial building signage testing. Batteries must meet illumination requirements for a specified time, and licensed professionals should conduct other tests to ensure proper functionality.
- Glare: Glare, either direct or indirect, can lead to eye strain, headaches, and difficulty distinguishing objects. Properly designed lighting systems that minimize glare can significantly improve safety and productivity in the workplace.
- Flicker: Flickering lights can cause eye strain, migraines, and fatigue. It is essential to ensure that the lighting system is free from flicker, especially in environments where workers are exposed to lights for extended periods.
- Visual acuity: Visual acuity refers to the ability to distinguish fine details. Proper lighting can help improve visual acuity
- Remote site lighting and site lighting safety in Australia: Reliable lighting in remote areas, temporary sites, or heavy vehicle interchanges can be challenging. Solar-powered lighting is an effective solution for achieving optimal illumination in areas without mains electricity. Earthtrack provides portable solar lighting towers and fitting for various lighting applications. In Australia, ensuring adequate site lighting safety is essential, with the Safe Work Australia reporting that lighting-related incidents account for approximately 4% of serious workplace injuries.
References: Safe Work Australia: Work-related Injuries and Fatalities