Lighting services

Lighting surveys

There is increasing awareness of the importance of lighting in the workspace. During normal working conditions, the lighting should be appropriate to the tasks being carried out. This is partly an issue of comfort, which affects productivity in the workplace, and partly a health and safety issue as it relates to the hazards of slips, trips and falls.

SgurrEnergy conduct surveys of normal workplace lighting in accordance with Regulation 8 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which requires that every workplace have suitable and sufficient lighting. This should be by natural lighting, so far as is reasonably practicable. Good lighting, whether natural or artificial, has an important role to play in promoting health and safety at work. It helps us to see hazards and it can reduce the likelihood of visual fatigue and discomfort.

Emergency lighting is subject to another set of regulations and standards, which have been significantly restructured in recent years. Employers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of emergency escape lighting, and are taking their legal duties increasingly seriously.

Emergency lighting is assessed in accordance with BS 5266-1:2005 Emergency lighting Part 1: Code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises. Emergency lighting must continue to operate even when the normal supply is interrupted, and must be sufficient to guide a building’s occupants towards fire extinguishers and escape routes.

Lighting will typically be assessed in both high and low ambient lighting conditions. In high ambient light (daylight), excessive illumination can pose a glare hazard. In darkness, reduced visibility can significantly increase the risks of slips, trips and falls as well as the hazards posed by obstructions at head height, rotating machinery and high voltage electrical equipment, among others.

Recent projects

We have recently carried out a number of lighting surveys of hydroelectric power stations. These sites typically include very many rooms from small cubicles to large turbine rooms, with a variety of different hazards and occupancies ranging from a single person once a month to several people daily. The requirements on these different compartments vary significantly.

 

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