Workstation lighting: how to get it right?

The quality of workstation lighting can have a major effect on employees, raising or lowering productivity by up to 50%. This matters for the business as a whole and for the well-being and efficiency of every employee.

The right lighting level for malls, business centres and offices depends on the nature of the task and the room where the work is done. Assembling small parts, technical drawing and checking data need a lot of light. Loading and unloading goods or working with materials and packaging need much less. Light for a shop will differ from light for an accounts office or a production floor.

With a responsible approach you get:

• a lower risk of workplace accidents and health problems;
• sharper concentration;
• higher productivity thanks to faster work and better accuracy;
• an active, cheerful atmosphere in the team.

Here are some recommendations that will help right away.

Make the most of daylight

Natural office lighting is the most effective way to raise a team's productivity. Daylight lifts morale like nothing else, and it costs nothing. Study the layout of the workplace and the needs of your staff, then:

• place equipment and computers near the windows and move staff whose work needs constant concentration closer to them;
• where possible, add windows to the workspace.

Before planning and installing windows in walls and roofs, think through the best height, width and position. You get more light if the window is placed high on the wall. Do not forget about curtains and blinds.

Use task lighting

Task lighting has many advantages. It needs less energy for the right brightness, because brightness falls off sharply with distance from the light source. A few tips for using it effectively:

• install desk lamps, luminaires and floor lamps in the office;
• place and aim the light so that it lights the workstations well;
• use mobile stands or flexible arms;
• combine general and local lighting;
• zone the workspace: light in rest areas and work areas should differ;
• glare and flicker ratings are very important in an office. The lower they are, the more comfortable it is for staff to work. In all our luminaires these values meet the Ukrainian building and state standards. Our linear office luminaires also have a film that gives UGR below 19: it cuts stray rays and helps avoid glare in the eyes.

LED is the best option for a workstation. LED fixtures use little energy, give off little heat and are environmentally safe.

The initial cost of installing LED lighting is higher than with incandescent or fluorescent fixtures, but the long-term investment gives the best return.

One last tip, not directly about lighting fixtures but helpful for getting the lighting right: what colour are the walls in your office? Glossy white painted surfaces can reflect almost all the light, while the black that is fashionable today reflects almost none. Use white or very light shades on ceilings, walls, desks and equipment, and you will see the productivity and mood of your staff go up.

Contact our team and you will always get competent advice for your business.