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Faizan
It's very important to measure light and lux levels in the workplace; bad lighting can be hugely detrimental to your business and jeopardise your safety. Low light (or low Lux levels) may cause fatigue, muscle strain, and costly mistakes in industry, particularly if an employee or colleague is exposed to insufficient lighting over long periods of time. It's the same for excessive light (or Lux) levels. Glare, and reflected light can distract an individual and impair his or her vision, which is particularly dangerous when a job requires the worker's full attention, such as working with machinery or hazardous chemicals.
Appropriate lighting should be ensured at all times through testing and regular maintenance. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974, an employer has a duty to ensure the health and safety of employees. The Act includes a duty to provide lighting to ensure that work can be done safely, and that employees health or eyesight are not jeopardised. Regulation no.8 of the Workplace Regulations Act 1992 states that employers must ensure that:
Every workplace has suitable and sufficient lighting.
This should be natural light, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Suitable and sufficient emergency lighting shall be provided where needed.
To test, and maintain a required lighting level, it's standard industry practise to use a light level meter. These instruments will typically provide a luminance reading based on either Lux or Foot-Candles. Lux (Lux) is a unit of illumination of one square metre, which is one metre away from a uniform light source. It is also a European standard of measurement. Foot-Candles (FC) is a unit of illumination of one square foot, which is one foot away from a uniform light source. It is a U.S measurement standard.
1 Lux = 0.0929 FC, 1 FC - 10.76 Lux
The amount of light (or Lux) required to suit your workplace obviously depends on the type of work being done, but the list below gives an indication of the light (or Lux levels) required for different kinds of working environments.
Appropriate lighting should be ensured at all times through testing and regular maintenance. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974, an employer has a duty to ensure the health and safety of employees. The Act includes a duty to provide lighting to ensure that work can be done safely, and that employees health or eyesight are not jeopardised. Regulation no.8 of the Workplace Regulations Act 1992 states that employers must ensure that:
Every workplace has suitable and sufficient lighting.
This should be natural light, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Suitable and sufficient emergency lighting shall be provided where needed.
To test, and maintain a required lighting level, it's standard industry practise to use a light level meter. These instruments will typically provide a luminance reading based on either Lux or Foot-Candles. Lux (Lux) is a unit of illumination of one square metre, which is one metre away from a uniform light source. It is also a European standard of measurement. Foot-Candles (FC) is a unit of illumination of one square foot, which is one foot away from a uniform light source. It is a U.S measurement standard.
1 Lux = 0.0929 FC, 1 FC - 10.76 Lux
The amount of light (or Lux) required to suit your workplace obviously depends on the type of work being done, but the list below gives an indication of the light (or Lux levels) required for different kinds of working environments.
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