Depending on where you are in the country will determine how much the time change and shorter days affects your workplace lighting, but darker working conditions can affect workplace safety inside and out. Make sure to inspect interior and exterior lights to make sure they are working properly and providing enough light.
Bad lighting can cause health conditions and poor performance in employees, more accidents, and security problems. Low light or poor lighting conditions can cause sluggishness, eye strain, headaches, and discomfort in employees which can affect the overall productivity and quality of work. The amount of light and color of lights can change the perception of color, depth, speed, and even shape of objects. This can cause accidents or mistakes to be made with wire colors, moving equipment such as conveyors, and even heavy machinery such as forklifts or trucks. In addition to checking lighting in working areas, make sure there is enough lighting for security cameras and facial recognition from a distance to reduce security risks all hours of the day.
How do you know if you have enough lighting to improve your workplace conditions or reduce the risks listed above? Proper lighting is determined on an individual basis, but more lighting is needed in areas with moving objects or when precision is needed. Regularly check existing lights to make sure they are working properly and are not obstructed. Flickering lights, while still illuminating an area, can cause employees irritations or even seizures in more extreme cases. Clean off lights and windows to maximize the light output, check light direction, and watch out for lighting glare as this can also have negative effects.
So as you change your clocks back and the days get shorter, check your interior and exterior lighting and upgrade where it is needed for the safety, security, and productivity of your company. Need to upgrade your lighting? Let SMC lighting specialists assess your organization and provide you with a custom solution that is right for you with an LED & Lighting Assessment.