Most people know that several elements influence workplace productivity. Comfortable chairs, water fountains or dispensers, large and open work areas, and crucial amenities such as a good break room and places to relax are all important considerations. However, there is one critical component that many businesses and employers around the world overlook: lighting.
Of course, everyone understands the importance of lighting, but many people appear to be unaware of how the type and intensity of lighting in a workplace affect employee productivity and safety.
Many employees complain about poor illumination in their workplace. Surprisingly, it appears that the two extremes of lighting are what most employees worry about, whether the lights are too bright and harsh or too dim and dreary. Even so, there is one thing that many employers do not consider when it comes to lighting: the safety factor it provides. Proper lighting can solve many safety issues that most warehouses will experience with enough employees.
Read on to discover some of the best ways to keep your business safe with proper lighting!
How Does Lighting Keep You Safe?
Lighting keeps you safe primarily by allowing you to be aware of your surroundings to a higher degree than you could in the dark. Simply put, most complex tasks, such as loading and unloading products on warehouse shelving, become immensely easier when you have a good amount of light present. However, once that light disappears, the rate of accidents and injury will drastically skyrocket. As such, ensuring that proper lighting is present in high-traffic areas allows your business to achieve a higher degree of safety!
Why the Right Lighting Improves Your Workplace
You can protect your employees by installing quality, effective illumination. In a warehouse, there are plenty of hazards at every turn, and proper illumination can help to keep your staff safe. The following are the primary reasons for having a dependable warehouse lighting system:
Reduces worker errors—When you remove dark spots and areas, employees are no longer straining to see their papers and labels. Maintaining a clear view allows your employees to make fewer mistakes on the job.
Reduces heavy machinery accidents—When operators can see what they’re doing, they’re less likely to run into shelves or, worse, other people. They can work efficiently without causing damage to property or harming their fellow employees.
Reduces employee tiredness—If your warehouse has the right lighting, employees are less likely to experience the three o’clock slump. When the lighting design produces the proper color temperature and volume of light, they’re more likely to be alert and consistently productive throughout the day.
Reduces energy expenses—Traditional lighting solutions, such as fluorescent lighting, emit heat, whereas LED warehouse lights are cool to the touch. Because traditional bulbs and fixtures generate a lot of extra expenses on your power bill, switching to LED lighting can save you money.
Consider Your Situation To Properly Light a Space
How Many Fixtures Do You Need?
Every warehouse is unique, and simply knowing the square footage of your property is insufficient. To determine how many fixtures you’ll need to get the ideal illumination for each space, you’ll need to utilize a light meter. A blueprint will assist you in confirming the right light pattern and where each LED fixture would perform its best.
How High Are Your Shelves or Stacked Products?
The higher your products are above the building’s ceiling, the more light you’ll need to provide optimum lighting levels. Keep in mind that structures and shelving can block light from certain aisles and areas, so supplemental lighting may be necessary in densely packed warehouse setups.
What Color Temperature Should the Lights Be?
Color temperature has a significant impact on staff productivity and safety. The optimal color temperature for warehouses is a bright, clear white light between 4000K and 5000K. If your light output is too warm, employees will be drowsy, less productive, and unable to see shelves and labels well.
How Should You Space the Lights Out?
If light fixture spacing isn’t done correctly, it might result in glares or dark areas. You’ll have hot patches where the light overlaps if your LED light fixtures are too close together. Alternatively, you will miss some spots if your LED lighting system is set up with the lamps too widely apart, resulting in dark patches.
How Should You Distribute the Lighting?
Your lighting system must produce an illumination pattern that is consistent with the layout of your business. If your aisles are small and your shelving is high, the light source in that region should also be long and slim. If you have a lot of open space, the lighting in those areas should have a lot of light.
What Special Conditions Does the Space Have?
If you’re installing your lights in a location with unique conditions, you should consider using specialized lighting fixtures, such as fixtures with a wet rating or vaporproof options. Some lighting options also factor in impact resistance.
Use LEDs To Light Your Business Space
LEDs are far more energy-efficient than traditional lighting options like incandescent bulbs or fluorescent lamps. LED lights have a wide variety of benefits, including:
- Cutting maintenance and energy costs
- Lowering strain on your HVAC system
- Increasing worker safety and productivity
- Improving quality control
- Reducing your business’s carbon footprint
LED warehouse lighting is available in a variety of configurations, including 2x4 LED lighting fixtures with various features, so you can rest assured that there are options that suit your unique needs. For your warehouse, an LED lighting solution is ideal. It ensures that your business has appropriate illumination and allows you to enjoy a better facility with happier, more productive personnel.
There are many ways that proper lighting keeps your business safe, from limiting mistakes to increasing employee alertness. We guarantee that if you apply these lighting principles properly in your workplace, you will notice a drastic decrease in the frequency of safety accidents.
If you are looking for a convenient online industrial lighting store, look no further than Eco LED Mart! We have a vast selection of LED lighting fixtures and accessories to ensure that we are your one-stop shop for your LED lighting needs!
