As the darker months approach, Energizer is stressing the importance of correct workshop lighting to avoid eye strain.
Mechanics can’t work efficiently if they’re unable to see what they’re working on – eye strain can produce several problems for anyone in their line of work. It can increase downtime by causing headaches, tired eyes, fatigue and difficulty concentrating, so it’s imperative this is avoided.
Let’s investigate how these health and safety matters are best avoided and explore some of the options when it comes to lighting workshops.
Lighting is the one thing that affects everything you do in your workshop. Appropriate lighting can prevent workplace accidents by increasing the visibility of safety hazards. Detailed visibility is needed in any working environment, but it is particularly important when working with moving machinery. Not having enough lighting is a problem, but too much lighting can also cause health and safety problems which can lead to low productivity, poor quality work and mistakes in the workplace. As well as physical difficulties, poor lighting in workshops can take its toll on workers’ mental health, causing stress and anxiety in high pressure environments.
Getting the lighting right
Mechanics work on various elements of a vehicle, and at times, in unique settings – because of this, certain types of lighting will be required at different times. Often, mechanics use portable handheld lights for convenience such as torches to be able to see areas of a vehicle in detail. However, headlamps allow workers to work hands-free, and complete the job at hand seamlessly rather than shining a torch in the designated area, taking away the use of one hand.
Headlamps provide direct lighting which makes visibility of particular parts easier when repairing vehicles. Some headlamps also have multiple light settings which is useful when switching between different tasks. Other things to note when purchasing portable lighting is beam distance, light output and whether the product is water-resistant. Portable lighting can really help workers to perform more efficiently especially if they work in demanding environments.
A common choice of lighting is LEDs. LED technology is famous for its energy efficiency and long service life, it uses 70% less energy compared to incandescent lighting and bulbs can have a lifespan of up to 100,000 hours. As well as this, LED lighting is flicker free, and generates less heat which prevents burning. For the general health and well-being of workers, LED lighting is highly recommended for use in workshops.
Into the blue
The colour of light is also an important factor when selecting appropriate lighting for your workshop. The colour of light is measured in Kelvin (K). A warm or yellow light would measure around 3,000 K whilst a sunny day might measure 5,500 K.
According to a study by the University of Greenwich, workers who worked under ‘blue-enriched’ lighting, which would measure between 6,000-7,000 K, reported feeling “happier, more alert and had less eye strain”. To create uniformity in your workshop, we suggest using the same colour temperature. Alternatively, as mentioned above, if your workers are using portable lighting equipment, selecting lighting which has multiple settings that allow for different coloured lighting might also be beneficial.
Energizer manufactures a range of handsfree, lightweight, and versatile lighting products specifically designed for tasks that require two hands, for both indoor, outdoor and everyday use.
Ultimately, lighting has a far greater impact than you may have otherwise assumed. Making smart, informed choices when it comes to lighting in your workshop can dramatically increase your workforce’s productivity and safety. By adequately lighting your workshop, you’re saving lives – it really is that important. It is vital that you monitor the lighting in your workshop but also consider portable lighting which can make individual tasks much easier to complete.
