Laws Regarding Lighting at your workplace?

[Thomas Morrison]

Hi guys & girls.

I've joined in the hope I can get some answers. I started my new job over 8 months ago. I work in a parts department at a car dealership and the room I work in is a brick room with no windows, the doors lead to other dark parts of the building so there is no daylight. The lights in the room are supposed to be 'LED' Natural lighting. 3 Weeks after starting I had achy eyes and found out I needed glasses. 8 Months down the line my eyes are terrible and constantly ache. I'm in the room for 9 hours a day most of the time looking at a computer screen. I've raised this concern to my director who says he has had the light measured and it's safe to work in. This is where it is left. My question is, is there any law regarding this that could help me have some sort of modification made to allow daylight into the room before I end up completely blind. I love my job but if it's going to make my eyesight anyworse I don't think I'll be sticking around.

Thanks in return!
T

 

[Lisa Thomas]

This is not my area but I would leave - clearly the employer doesn't care and your eyesight is not worth it.

Whether you could then have a claim (constructive dismissal?) against the employer is a matter for someone who does have expertise in this type of claim and hopefully someone else will be along shortly to comment.

 

[Newchodge]

There are rules about screen use and there are rules about a healthy and safe working environment. Have you had a medical opinion about your eyesight problems? Are you sure the problem is the lighting, rather than the screen use?

Lots of people work in rooms without natural daylight and rely on artificail light - the obligation here is that your employer ensures there is sufficient light, and I have not heard of artificial light causing this kind of problem.

To get anywhere you need an official medical opinion.

 

[Thomas Morrison]

Thanks for the comments so far. Would you suggest seeing a doctor to gain an opinion or would you say see an optician? The worry for me is a doctor writing a letter to the employer and causing me more agro! Quite possibly could be the screen use you could be correct. But the mixture of the two leave me with a thumping headache and very tired eyes!

 

[Newchodge]

I've just googled artificial light and eye problems - there is a concern, apparently. I would suggest starting with a call to the Health and Safety Executive.

 

[Deleted member 226268]

Why don't you just buy yourself a desk-top lamp ?

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-400W-PIR-Floodlight-White/p/702840

 

[The Byre]

http://luxreview.com/article/2015/0...everything-you-need-to-know-but-dared-not-ask

 

[Chris Ashdown]

My first thoughts would be to see if you can reach the main lighting units and take down any code on them and then look it up on google to see what sort of lights they are

A light flickering at certain frequencies can lead to blinding headacks

You could try turning the brightness of the computer screen down a bit and make sure you sit directly in front of it at face level

Maybe there is more to your eye site problems than work so suggest you book a visit to a opticians and ask them to check, I think it only costs about £15.00

If all are ok then write to your boss not talk that you are having problems and can he investigate you can have a better work area with daylight lighting

 

[Awinner2]

You are looking at the screen (up to 9 hours?) far too long.

The relevant regulations are the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992. Regulation 4, is concerned with the daily activities of users and states:

'Every employer shall so plan the activities of users at work in his undertaking that their daily work on display screen equipment is periodically interrupted by such breaks or changes of activity as reduce their workload at that equipment.'