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    Lighting Standards

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    paul
    This document provides an overview of lighting standards as they relate to workplace health and safety, specifically for creative industries. It discusses how lighting is measured in lux, and describes the competing standards of the Australian standard AS1680 which recommends a minimum of 320 lux for offices, and the ISO 3664 standard which recommends a range of 32-64 lux for screen-based color-critical work. The document also notes that lighting standards vary between jurisdictions in terms of legal requirements. It presents photos showing different light levels and their effects, and discusses balancing health, safety and productivity when different standards conflict.

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    Lighting Standards

    Uploaded by

    paul
    203 views13 pages
    This document provides an overview of lighting standards as they relate to workplace health and safety, specifically for creative industries. It discusses how lighting is measured in lux, and describes the competing standards of the Australian standard AS1680 which recommends a minimum of 320 lux for offices, and the ISO 3664 standard which recommends a range of 32-64 lux for screen-based color-critical work. The document also notes that lighting standards vary between jurisdictions in terms of legal requirements. It presents photos showing different light levels and their effects, and discusses balancing health, safety and productivity when different standards conflict.

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    lighting standards examples for Lux requirements OHS Australia

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    This document provides an overview of lighting standards as they relate to workplace health and safety, specifically for creative industries. It discusses how lighting is measured in lux, and describes the competing standards of the Australian standard AS1680 which recommends a minimum of 320 lux for offices, and the ISO 3664 standard which recommends a range of 32-64 lux for screen-based color-critical work. The document also notes that lighting standards vary between jurisdictions in terms of legal requirements. It presents photos showing different light levels and their effects, and discusses balancing health, safety and productivity when different standards conflict.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    203 views13 pages

    Lighting Standards

    Uploaded by

    paul
    This document provides an overview of lighting standards as they relate to workplace health and safety, specifically for creative industries. It discusses how lighting is measured in lux, and describes the competing standards of the Australian standard AS1680 which recommends a minimum of 320 lux for offices, and the ISO 3664 standard which recommends a range of 32-64 lux for screen-based color-critical work. The document also notes that lighting standards vary between jurisdictions in terms of legal requirements. It presents photos showing different light levels and their effects, and discusses balancing health, safety and productivity when different standards conflict.

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    You are on page 1of 13

    Assessment # 1 OH&S Research

    Workplace lighting standards for creative industries.

    Table of Contents
    Introduction. ................................................................................................... 2
    Overview Measuring light. ......................................................................... 3
    Overview Lighting Standards .................................................................... 4
    Overview Lighting, and the Law. ............................................................. 10
    Competing Goals. ........................................................................................ 11
    Conclusion. .................................................................................................. 11
    Appendix - Photographic Method. ............................................................. 11
    References and Bibliography/Resources.................................................. 12

    Paul Jacobs 8100334612 AS1 Industry Practice OH&S Research

    Introduction.
    The following is an examination of Occupational Health and Safety
    (OH&S) standards relating to workplace lighting (interior
    illumination), specifically the suitability of the following Australian
    and ISO standards as applied to a creative industry work
    environment.
    This is a complex topic as it involves the legal position and industrial
    application of two separate and essentially opposed standards.
    Furthermore, to appreciate these standards a basic explanation of
    the measurement of light for the purpose of assessing room
    illumination is important to understanding the research.
    The fundamental problem is simply this; a healthy office
    environment is relatively well lit and but accurate work with a
    computer screen requires the room to be much darker.
    Inadequate lighting can lead to eyestrain and psychological
    problems.
    Depending on the jurisdiction and application, the recommended
    OH&S level of room lighting for an office environment is a minimum
    of 320 Lux* while the recommended light level for producing
    accurate and consistent screen based graphic work is between 32
    Lux to 64 Lux.
    *An explanation of Lux and Lighting standards in subsequent
    sections.
    What follows is an explanation of measuring light using Lux values
    and expanding upon the two lighting standards in question. An
    example of light levels is provided with a photographic sequence
    demonstrating different illumination levels. Following this, a
    discussion of the OH&S consequences of light on workplace health
    and a proposed solution to the problem leads to a final conclusion.

    Paul Jacobs 8100334612 AS1 Industry Practice OH&S Research

    Overview Measuring light.


    To remain within the scope of this discussion we are concerned only
    with light measurement as applied to illumination as opposed to the
    other methods of light measurement for other purposes (i.e. colour
    temperature, photographic exposure, absolute radiant energy and
    so on).
    Lux is an International System value of measuring light that refers
    specifically to the measurement of visible light reflected from a solid
    surface known as Luminance (1).
    Lux values (typically abbreviated as lx) can be best understood with
    some simple examples:

    Bright cloudless day 100 000 lx


    Overcast day 30 000 lx
    Naturally lit house interior 150 lx
    Street lighting at night - 15 lx
    Clear night sky full moon 1 lx (1)

    The human eye is capable of adapting well to a wide range of lx


    levels. There is wide variation of lx levels across what may at first
    appear as similar conditions and there are significant variables
    involved in accurate and repeatable measurement.
    However in controlled indoor environments it is relatively easy to
    maintain a set level and therefore consistent and repeatable lx
    readings.
    To gain a reading a Lux meter is used to take an incident reading
    from five points over a given area reflecting the total light available
    (2) (using an invercone of diffuser over the meters eye and
    measuring over a uniform surface).

    Paul Jacobs 8100334612 AS1 Industry Practice OH&S Research

    Overview Lighting Standards


    The Australian Standards for workplace lighting are contained in:

    AS1680.1-2006, Interior and workplace lighting - general


    principles and recommendations

    AS/NZS 1680.2 series, Interior and workplace lighting specific applications

    Specifically relevant here is Part 2.2 2008 office and screen based
    tasks.
    The AS/NZ 1680 lighting standard for office environments is a
    minimum of 320 lx.
    It should be noted that any Australian Standard is only a
    recommendation and is note enforceable by law unless it is directly
    incorporated into legislation by government (3).
    The legal status of AS1680 is explained in the next section but it is
    generally recognized as an OH&S recommendation for those
    designing workplace lighting.
    Counter to AS1680 are the light levels required to meet industrial
    standards for performing consistent colour and density critical work
    (e.g. graphic, reprographic, photographic and cinematic work for
    hard output and screen reproduction herein creative industries).
    The industrial standard set by the ISO (International Standards
    Organisation) that should be adopted across the creative industries
    is contained in:

    ISO 3664:2000 Viewing Conditions Graphics technology


    and photography.

    The ISO recommended standard for room lighting while viewing


    computer monitors to perform colour/density critical work (e.g.
    design) is a range from 32 to 64 lx. (4) (5)
    The importance in producing accurate work that can be viewed and
    reproduced by others in the production process is vitally important.
    While many other factors come into play such as screen calibration
    and viewing angle, it can be simply noted that viewing a screen in a
    bright room as opposed to a dark room does noticeably affect the
    Paul Jacobs 8100334612 AS1 Industry Practice OH&S Research

    eyes response to what is being viewed on screen and therefore the


    work being produced.
    320 lx is fine for computer work involving general office and
    administrative tasks but it is many times brighter compared to the
    industrial standard.
    To give an approximation of what these various standards look like
    a series of photographs of the same environment lit to differing lx
    levels is provided on the following page
    The limitations to objectively reproducing these conditions a re
    provided in the Appendix - Photographic method.

    Paul Jacobs 8100334612 AS1 Industry Practice OH&S Research

    Photographic examples

    14 lx - no light

    35 lx small reading lamp bottom range of ISO 3664:2000


    standard 32 lx

    Paul Jacobs 8100334612 AS1 Industry Practice OH&S Research

    62 lx - reading lamp moved closer top range of ISO 3664:2000


    standard 64 lx

    81 lx - main room lights

    Paul Jacobs 8100334612 AS1 Industry Practice OH&S Research

    280 lx -natural outdoor light

    350 lx - natural outdoor light + main room lights (note clean


    separation of steps on gray scale) - AUS1680 standard for office
    minimum of 320 lx

    Paul Jacobs 8100334612 AS1 Industry Practice OH&S Research

    350 lx - main room lights + photographic lamp (note clean


    separation of steps on gray scale) AUS1680 standard for office
    minimum of 320 lx

    2800 lx - natural outdoor light + main room light + photographic


    lamp (note balance between indoor and outdoor light levels)

    Paul Jacobs 8100334612 AS1 Industry Practice OH&S Research

    Overview Lighting, and the Law.


    The AS1680 standards recommend varying levels and types of
    lighting suitable for a particular workplace and the type of activity
    or employment undertaken. In Queensland these standards are not
    lawfully binding.
    Standards Australia may set standards but these are not
    enforceable unless incorporated into the relevant legislation.
    The Queensland Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 Chapter 3
    Division 2 - 40 p57 simply state:
    lighting enables
    (i)
    (ii)
    (iii)

    Each worker to carry out work without


    Risk to health and safety; and
    Persons to move within the workplace without
    risk to health and safety; and
    Safe evacuation in an emergency; (6)

    Compare this to the South Australian workplace regulation that


    specifically refers to the AS1680 standard as a lawful requirement
    (7).
    As of the first of January this year, the Federal Government has
    initiated a process of Work Place Health and Safety Harmonisation
    that directs all State Government OH&S regulation to be
    standardized (8). However this is a process that is only just
    underway and it remains to be seen if some regulations rise to meet
    the highest standards or fall to meet the lowest.
    A specific reference to light levels, like many other workplace
    standards may be found in the Award Conditions from State and
    Federal jurisdictions, but Awards will only cover employees within
    certain occupations.

    Paul Jacobs 8100334612 AS1 Industry Practice OH&S Research

    Competing Goals.
    The consequences for physical and psychological health due to
    workplace lighting are straight forward;
    Working in dim or overbright work environments can result in
    eyestrain, headaches, irritability and, inevitably, reduced
    productivity. Low levels of lighting can cause depression, which for
    some people may be severe. (my italics) (9)
    What options are there to create and accurate design work in an
    environment that meets AS1680 standards.
    Frequent breaks are often recommended as a solution to the OH&S
    risks of screen based work but once again lawfully enforceable
    Regulation Breaks are dictated by Awards not the overarching
    Workplace Health and Safety Regulations.
    A carefully designed workspace presents the best option. The
    photographer Kevin Mills has detailed his efforts in making a
    compliant and comfortable work area on his website (5). Using a
    mixture of careful backlighting with variable main lighting and
    carefull consideration of the various surfaces with in a space he
    demonstrates an approach that look feasible and effective.

    Conclusion.
    Workplace lighting cannot be neglected as an OH&S issue especially
    when special requirements are need for particular industries. Like
    wise, industrial standards in the creative industries are important
    and with a bit of thought and effort an accommodation can be
    reached.

    Appendix - Photographic Method.


    The limitations of using photography to objectively capture and
    reproducing light levels to accurately match the reading obtained by
    a Lux meter present significant problems. Taking the cameras
    recommended exposure as a starting point manual adjustments in
    exposure were applied to replicate what the eyes sees (typically 1-3
    / f-stop with lower lx levels receiving more exposure). Further
    complications arise (as with viewing any image) due to the
    variations in screen setting between content producer and user.
    While not perfect the reproduction does fairly approximate the
    viewed reality.
    Paul Jacobs 8100334612 AS1 Industry Practice OH&S Research

    References and Bibliography/Resources.


    ANSI PH2.30-1989 For Graphic Arts and Photography Color Prints,
    Transparencies, and Photo Mechanical Reproductions Viewing Conditions.
    (1) The Basics of Efficient Lighting A reference manual for training in efficient
    light principles. First Edition 2009, National Framework for Energy Efficiency.
    Ministerial Council on Energy & Federal department of Resources.
    (2) Resorce Smart Victoria, Lux Meter www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au
    (3) Standards Australia, What is a Standard & Standards and the Law.
    www.standards.org.au
    (4) www.iso.org
    (5) www.kevinmillsphoto.com/2008/10/lighting-your-workspace/
    (6) Queensland Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011. Workplace Health and
    Safety Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney General. Queensland
    Government. www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/
    (7) Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 2010, Government of
    South Australia. www.legislation.sa.gov.au
    (8) Harmonisation of WHS laws in Australia a brief introduction. Workplace
    Health and Safety Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney General.
    Queensland Government.

    (9) Workplace and Environment from Department of Education and Training


    Queensland. education.qld.gov.au/health/docs/.../workplace-environment.doc
    Queensland Work Health and Safety Act 2011.Workplace Health and Safety
    Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney General. Queensland
    Government.
    Guide to Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011. Workplace Health and Safety
    Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney General. Queensland
    Government

    Paul Jacobs 8100334612 AS1 Industry Practice OH&S Research

    Paul Jacobs 8100334612 AS1 Industry Practice OH&S Research

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