What is HSG38?
HSG38, "Lighting at Work," is a comprehensive guidance document from the Health and Safety Executive that provides practical advice on achieving adequate and appropriate lighting in workplaces. This detailed publication addresses all aspects of workplace illumination, from understanding the fundamental principles of lighting to implementing effective lighting solutions across diverse work environments.
Poor lighting is a common workplace hazard that often goes unrecognised. It can cause eyestrain, headaches, fatigue, and contribute to accidents by obscuring hazards or creating confusing shadows. Conversely, well-designed lighting enhances safety, improves productivity, supports wellbeing, and creates comfortable working conditions. HSG38 helps employers understand these relationships and provides practical guidance on achieving appropriate lighting for all work activities.
The guidance covers both natural daylight and artificial lighting systems, recognising that most workplaces use a combination of both. It addresses general workplace lighting, task-specific lighting, emergency lighting, and the particular requirements of different work environments from offices to industrial premises.
Who Needs This Document?
HSG38 serves a broad range of professionals responsible for workplace conditions:
Primary Audiences:
- Facilities managers and building services managers
- Health and safety professionals
- Employers and business owners responsible for workplace conditions
- Building designers and architects
- Lighting engineers and consultants
Secondary Audiences:
- Property managers overseeing commercial and industrial premises
- Office managers responsible for work environment quality
- Occupational health professionals investigating lighting-related complaints
- HR professionals addressing workplace comfort issues
- Maintenance teams responsible for lighting system upkeep
Anyone with responsibility for ensuring suitable workplace conditions should understand the principles outlined in this guidance.
Key Topics Covered
HSG38 addresses workplace lighting comprehensively across multiple dimensions:
Fundamental Lighting Principles
The guidance explains key concepts including:
- Illuminance (measured in lux) and recommended levels for different activities
- Luminance and brightness perception
- Colour rendering and colour temperature
- Contrast, glare, and visual comfort
- The relationship between lighting and visual performance
Recommended Lighting Levels
Detailed tables provide recommended illuminance levels for various work activities:
- General areas (corridors, stairs, toilets): 50-100 lux
- Offices and general workrooms: 200-500 lux
- Drawing offices and detailed work: 500-750 lux
- Fine assembly and inspection: 750-1000 lux
- Very fine work and instrument assembly: 1000-1500 lux
Natural Lighting
The guidance covers maximising the benefits of natural daylight including:
- Window design and placement
- Managing glare from windows
- Balancing daylight with artificial lighting
- The health and wellbeing benefits of natural light exposure
Artificial Lighting Systems
Comprehensive coverage of artificial lighting includes:
- Types of light sources (LED, fluorescent, incandescent, discharge lamps)
- Lighting fixture selection and placement
- Direct, indirect, and task lighting approaches
- Energy efficiency considerations
- Maintenance and lamp replacement schedules
Display Screen Equipment Areas
Specific guidance addresses lighting for computer workstations:
- Preventing reflections and glare on screens
- Balancing ambient and task lighting
- Window positioning relative to workstations
- Adjustable task lighting for individual needs
Emergency Lighting
Requirements for emergency lighting systems including:
- Escape route illumination
- High-risk task area lighting
- Standby lighting systems
- Testing and maintenance requirements
Special Environments
The guidance addresses particular lighting challenges in:
- Industrial and manufacturing environments
- Warehouses and storage areas
- Outdoor work areas
- Shift work and 24-hour operations
- Areas with explosion risks requiring special fittings
Using This Guidance
Implementing HSG38 effectively involves a systematic approach:
Step 1: Assessment Survey existing lighting conditions using appropriate measuring equipment. Document current illuminance levels at working surfaces and identify areas of concern including excessive glare, inadequate light levels, or poor uniformity.
Step 2: Task Analysis Consider the visual demands of work tasks in each area. Fine detail work requires higher illuminance than general movement. Identify any workers with particular visual needs that may require enhanced lighting.
Step 3: Standards Application Compare measured levels against recommended standards for the work activities performed. Remember that older workers typically need higher light levels to achieve the same visual performance.
Step 4: Improvement Planning Where deficiencies are identified, develop improvement plans. This may involve:
- Upgrading or replacing light fittings
- Improving maintenance schedules
- Repositioning workstations relative to light sources
- Adding task lighting
- Improving use of natural light
Step 5: Ongoing Management Establish regular maintenance schedules including lamp replacement, fitting cleaning, and periodic measurement. Review lighting when work activities or layouts change.
Why It Matters
Proper workplace lighting is important for multiple interconnected reasons:
Legal Compliance: The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require that workplaces have suitable and sufficient lighting. Regulation 8 specifically addresses lighting requirements. Following HSG38 guidance demonstrates compliance with these legal duties.
Safety: Adequate lighting is fundamental to workplace safety. Poor lighting contributes to slips, trips, and falls; obscures hazards; and increases the risk of accidents with machinery and equipment. Good lighting helps workers see hazards and perform tasks safely.
Health and Wellbeing: Poor lighting causes eyestrain, headaches, and fatigue. Long-term exposure to inadequate lighting can contribute to visual problems. Conversely, good lighting, particularly natural daylight, supports circadian rhythms, improves mood, and enhances overall wellbeing.
Productivity and Quality: Visual tasks performed in good lighting conditions are completed more quickly and accurately. Reduced errors and improved efficiency provide direct business benefits. Workers in well-lit environments report higher job satisfaction.
Energy Efficiency: Modern lighting design, guided by HSG38 principles, can achieve appropriate illumination while minimising energy consumption. LED technology, combined with intelligent controls, offers significant energy savings while improving light quality.
Reduced Complaints: Many workplace complaints relate to lighting conditions. Understanding and implementing HSG38 guidance helps prevent complaints and resolve issues when they arise.
Investing in proper workplace lighting is not merely a compliance exercise; it represents a genuine investment in worker health, safety, and productivity that delivers returns well beyond the initial costs.