The Must-Know Lighting Trends & Requirements for Today's Work Environments

Have you ever considered the importance of proper lighting in your business’s office, facility, or jobsite? What about the type of lighting humans need to be most productive? From the types of workplace lighting to OSHA’s lighting standards, we’ll dig into all things workplace luminescence in this guide.

If your employees work in inadequately lit conditions, productivity and mood can plummet while the likelihood of injury and visual fatigue rise. And it seems humans crave natural light the most. According to a research poll of 1,614 North American employees featured in the Harvard Business Review, access to natural light and views of the outdoors outranked other workplace perks such as onsite fitness centers and cafeterias.

Based on the same study, you can surmise we’re starving for natural light. More than one third of employees polled reported not getting enough natural light in the workplace. 43% of these employees reported they feel tired or very tired due to the lack of natural light, while 47% blame the absence of natural light for their gloomy dispositions.

Whether natural or artificial, lighting in our work environments is so important that OSHA has standards around it. More on that later.

While natural light may be your employees’ preference, it’s not always possible or practical for the task at hand. Refer to the infographic for more types of lighting you may find in the workplace. 

Shameless plug: Zoro has all the work lights, task lighting, decorative lighting, LED lighting, emergency lighting, and light bulbs your business needs to illuminate any space.

OSHA has strict workplace lighting standards. For good reason: inadequate lighting can lead to serious injuries. For every area of your work facility, OSHA has lighting requirements measured in lumens or foot-candles. 

A foot-candle is a unit of measure lighting pros use to calculate the light levels in businesses or outdoor spaces. Basically, it measures the intensity of the light on a one-square-foot surface away from the light source. Lumens measure the total amount of visible light from the light source.

Different work environments require more or less illumination. Follow the links below for OSHA’s lighting specifications for a handful of worksite locations or activities:

• Examination, installation, and use of electrical equipment 
• Exit routes and emergency planning
• Working conditions in shipyards
• Construction area lighting standards

Not Enough Light

If you see your employees using headlamps or flashlights more often than what seems reasonable, you’re not providing enough light. Consider adding more general or task lighting.

Glare

Glare can be distracting and create blind spots. Glare can be a result of reflective surfaces, sunlight, or overly bright light bulbs. Empower your employees to make any changes they need to manage glare throughout the day.

Improper Contrast

If the light around your workstation is brighter than the light in your workstation, you may experience more difficulty focusing on your tasks. In most instances, your workstation’s light should be brighter than the surrounding light. Use task lighting to make up the difference.

Uneven Light Distribution

Try to maintain evenly distributed lighting throughout your facility with general lighting. Sudden changes in light distribution may make it difficult for your employees’ eyes to quickly adjust.

What Are the Main Categories of Workplace Lighting?

Workplace lighting falls into three main categories: general lighting, task lighting, and emergency lighting. General lighting can be found throughout the workplace. It should be spaced evenly and have the same amount of brightness. Task lighting provides more focused illumination for reading and tasks that require attention to detail. Task lighting is extremely important where potentially dangerous tasks are being performed. Emergency lighting is usually connected to a reserve power supply and illuminates escape routes and emergency exits.

Which Types of Lighting Are Best for the Workplace?

The type of lighting that’s best for your business largely depends on what your company does. Are you a manufacturer or contractor? Your lighting needs will probably vary drastically from a frozen-yogurt shop. Most businesses rely on multiple types of lighting including energy-efficient LED lighting, natural light, fluorescent lighting, and task lighting. 

What Is a Typical Amount of Light in a Workplace?

The right amount of light depends on what you do. No matter how bright your workplace is, the light should be evenly distributed with no glare and no excessively bright spots. If your business still uses halogen or fluorescent bulbs, check them frequently to ensure there’s no flickering or buzzing. These nuisances can cause eyestrain or headaches. 

What Are Some Alternatives to Fluorescent Lighting?

Fluorescent lighting can cast a clinical vibe that’s not ideal for every work environment. Here are some alternatives you may prefer.

• Natural Lighting: Harness the benefits of natural light in the workplace as much as you can. It’s been reported to improve employees’ well-being and job performance. 
• LED Lighting: LED lighting offers business owners tons of benefits including energy efficiency, a longer lifespan, and they’re available in a variety of color temperatures–from cool to warm.
• Halogen Lighting: Halogen lighting provides high levels of illumination with minimal energy consumption. Halogen bulbs are typically brighter than LED bulbs and are available in a variety of colors as well.

Which Color Lighting Boosts Productivity in the Workplace?

The color blue has been known to boost productivity because it helps people feel relaxed and creative. Blue light can help reduce eye strain, focus our attention, and even help regulate our sleep and awake cycles.

Implementing the right lighting throughout your facility may take trial and error, but the extra attention will pay off by preventing injuries, increasing productivity, and promoting employee well-being. Don’t forget to shop Zoro for all of your lighting needs.

Product Compliance and Suitability

The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness, or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand, and follow all manufacturer instructions.