Hygiene Risks
3. Physical Pollutants
3.3. Lighting
Lighting is one of the factors present in all work environments and consequently contributes to creating conditions that are more or less suitable to carrying out the tasks that are performed.
Inadequate lighting is a synonym for accidents, as it gives rise to the following hazards:
Associated immediate hazards:
- Falls onto the same level.
- Falls onto a different level.
- Knocking against moving objects.
- Knocking against immobile objects.
Hazards related to physical effects:
- Visual fatigue or dazzle due to deficient lighting
Spanish Royal Decree 486/1997 established the minimum Health and Safety regulations in the workplace as regards minimum levels of lighting.
| WORKPLACE | MINIMUM LEVEL OF LIGHTING (lux) |
|---|---|
| Areas where tasks are carried out with: | |
| Low visual requirements | 100 |
| Moderate visual requirements | 200 |
| High visual requirements | 500 |
| Very high visual requirements | 1000 |
| Areas or premises used only occasionally | 50 |
| Areas or premises used routinely | 100 |
| Roadways used only occasionally | 25 |
| Roadways used routinely | 50 |
3.3.1. General safety conditions regarding lighting
- Sufficient lighting must exist so as to circulate in the workplace and carry out activities without any risk for the safety and health of workers. (The minimum levels of lighting have been indicated in the previous table).
- Lighting systems must exist that do not give rise to electrical, fire or explosion hazards.
- Natural lighting is to be used whenever possible.
- All workplaces or places of transit are to have natural, artificial or mixed lighting suited to the operations carried out there.
- The lighting of hazardous machinery, areas with the risk of falls, stairways and emergency exists is to be intensified.
- The intensity of light in each work area should be uniform, avoiding reflections and any other effect that might dazzle workers.
- Periodic cleaning is to be performed and lighting surfaces are to be replaced, if necessary, so as to ensure that they are always transparent.
3.3.2. Artificial lighting
- Artificial lighting is to be used in work areas that lack natural lighting, where natural lighting is insufficient or shadows are cast that hinder work operations.
- When the nature of the work requires intense lighting in a specific place, general lighting is to be combined with other, complementary lighting.
- Strong contrasts of light and shadow are to be avoided so as to be able to appreciate objects in their three dimensions.
- Dazzling effects are to be avoided.
- Reflections or images from light sources on shiny surfaces are to be avoided by painting machinery in matt colours.
- Artificial lighting should guarantee safety, not deteriorate the atmosphere of premises nor present any fire or explosion hazard.
- In premises with an explosion hazard due to the type of activities carried out there, stored substances or hazardous atmospheres, lighting is to be flameproof.
3.3.3. Emergency lighting
- All work centres are to have suitable means of emergency lighting for the dimensions of the premises and the number of workers occupied there at any one time.
- Said lighting is to be capable of maintaining an intensity of 5 lux for at least one hour and its energy source of is to be independent from the normal lighting system.
