The Secret to Creating the Correct Office Lighting

Most people working in offices today are using their sense of site for 95% of their workload. Reading, typing, filing, computer related tasks, proofing, and even reading others' facial expressions require our eyes to constantly be working. For this reason, correct office lighting is directly related to the efficiency of the office. Correct office lighting is a combination of daylight, general lighting and task lighting. While some lighting needs will be fulfilled in an office with the clean and broad rays of the sun, other requirements can only be met by specific and personalized task lighting. Neither of these light sources is sufficient, however, to illuminate the entire office. For this job, general lighting is necessary. Each light source has its specific benefits, and the proper balance of all three sources will lead to happier, healthier employees and enhanced productivity overall.

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Understand the Consequences of Poor Lighting
Improper lighting can result in burning eyes, visual impairment, headaches, fatigue and eyestrain. What's worse, people will often suffer repetitive-strain injuries. These can occur from improper posture in an attempt to avoid poor lighting. All these factors combine to cause great discomfort and injury to employees. Even if they are not absent from the workforce due to these circumstances, their productivity is greatly reduced with improper lighting. So, businesses can actually save money, through increased productivity, by investing in the correct office lighting.

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Individual Control Is Essential for Correct Office Lighting As part of an office's lighting plan, individual lighting options should be considered. Many studies have shown the benefit of allowing workers to control their own lighting features. Practically this also makes sense. Who better to decide when more or less light is needed for a specific task than the individual executing that task? Desk lamps, movable wall fixtures, and floor lamps situated near a desk give employees the ability to focus light on a particular assignment, minimize light and glare for computer tasks, and even save money by switching lights off when away from the desk.

Great Tips for Lighting an Office
The best lighting will vary depending on the type of work being done, as well as other factors such as office layout and window size and location. Here are some general tips to consider when looking for appropriate lighting for an office:

1. Adjustable desk lamps or wall fixtures give the employee the ability to control light intensity and direction, as do window shades and standing floor lamps.
2. General overhead lighting should be kept low, dimmer than the individual task lighting units. Many offices may benefits from a dimmer system.
3. Windows should allow daylight into the office, but should have shades to prevent glare if necessary.
4. Fluorescents are particularly inappropriate for use near a computer screen. The glare, mirror, and shadowing effect are unhealthy and counterproductive to quality work production.
5. Avoid placing a computer desk facing an unshielded window or directly beneath any light source.

The workload today can be extremely visually demanding. It is essential to consider the correct office lighting to keep the work environment pleasant, and the workers productive and healthy.