Lighting in the office

Good workplace lighting enables workers to see clearly and perform their work safely.

The key factors to consider when determining the adequacy of lighting are the:

• tasks or activities performed, how often and for how long they are performed
• amount and quality of light in an area
• number, type and position of the light sources
• glare, reflection and shadows.

Generally good lighting should enable people to easily view their work and environment without the need to strain their eyes. Different activities however require different levels and different qualities of light. The visual demands of the activity or task performed determine the lighting needs of an area. An activity such as walking through a corridor does not require a high level of light or an optimum quality of light. Whereas a task which involves fine and detailed work, such as checking a document for errors, requires greater levels of light and higher quality lighting.