Computer Lighting - Guidance on meeting UK legislation from 1st January 1997 onwards
When the clocks go back at the end of October there is a significant increase in the demand for task lights and other forms of lighting. This upsurge, based on primeval patterns of seasonality, is always welcome to leading lighting manufacturers such as Luxo but totally misses the point as far as the lighting of the modern computer office workstation is concerned.
With this very traditional view go other quaint ideas that task lights or copyholders should only be supplied to staff who ask for them. Although copyholders are mentioned in UK and EC legislation, there are still customers who have not heard of them, and the usual 'quickfix' simplistic solution mentality prevails, with significant misinformation on lighting for D.S.E.(Computer Display Screen Equipment Areas).
The widespread introduction of computer terminals and their impact on the people who use them is an area where lack of knowledge is very clear. Fortunately, there is a strong desire to know more in many organisations. There are a number of important aspects to this whole subject.
The recommendations of professional bodies such as C.I.B.S.E. rightly have a very considerable influence. The EC Directive is specific in a number of key areas and came into force in the UK on 1st January 1993 through the Health and Safety(Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992. This UK legislation follows the details of the much shorter EC Directive very closely but also defines very clearly the obligation of employers to assess workstations and consult in detail with employees on their working conditions in line with legislation. The other legal aspect is that employers have a clear duty to reduce the risk to employees arising from the effects of equipment use and working conditions.
Hazards to employees such as muscoskeletal disorders, upper limb pains and discomfort, temporary visual fatigue and stress are some complaints that can arise from poor equipment, poor workstation design and certainly poor lighting. It is also very important to stress that probably the longest and most exhaustive piece of research on workstation lighting design by Dr. A Cakir, published in September 1996, concludes that a two component lighting solution using local task lighting and uplighters is by far the best solution.
Coincidentally, this is the solution put forward by LUXO UK Ltd. and already installed in numerous prominent organisations in the UK and other European countries.
The legislation clearly states that risks to workers for which the employer has a clear and proactive legal responsibility, can be minimised by following the principles set out in the display Screen Equipment Regulations and CIBSE LG3: 1996. The strongest position an employer can adopt relates to perceived best practice, as opposed to common practice or in many cases completely misinformed practice. Poorly carried out, inadequate conditions can be a time bomb ticking away for literally years until the eventual employee injuries result in litigation and considerable damages at a future date. Top their credit some large organisations have already reacted positively to this risk.
However, Luxo Lighting specialists still come across organizations that have been influenced to install mainly Category 2 overhead luminaries (or possibly Category 1 or Category 3) without any regard to equipment layout and the type of work being done. This usually does not meet the regulations. The geometry between eyes, screen and luminaire is critical and almost comparable to the alignments necessary to produce a total eclipse of the sun. Seriously, it is far more critical than those involved usually imagine, and should not be approached simplistically if there is to be any chance of achieving the necessary objectives.
In contrast, illumination of the background general office area using uplighters is a far less critical exercise, depending on three easy to achieve criteria.
The Luxo, Two Component lighting approach uses asymmetric technical task lights conforming to the CIBSE definition, and uplighters to light the general office. The emphasis is on accurate control over the levels and direction of light output. Calculations are performed using sophisticated computer software, with hard copy verification for the customer. Without exception, staff reaction after installation has been extremely positive. Overall costs are usually very competitive when compared with traditional lighting systems. Other aspects of the ergonomic workstation are addresses by Luxo copyholders and computer support arms. This solution has a great deal to recommend it and an excellent case can be made for it being the best solution available. The 1st January 1997 is a key date as far as compliance is concerned and consultation by Luxo Lighting specialists is available on request.
For Further information contact LUXO UK Ltd. on London (020) 8698 7238
This page is sponsored by Professional Health and Safety Consultants Ltd. Phone Internationally: +44 2087787838 or UK London 020 8778 7838 for all your health and safety requirements.
