DSE Risk Assessments and Lighting

Over the years we have witnessed problems with lighting in the Office. The employer often indicates that the Display Screen Equipment Risk Assessment (DSE RA) process should address the issues.

Unfortunately the DSE RA process only has a limited amount of details on lighting.

However there is a question that would allow people with problems with the lighting to flag up their concerns. This is “is the lighting suitable …..”.

This is followed by examples but they should only be seen as that; examples and then there are some basic suggestions that could be considered.

The point is how do you know if the lighting is suitable? We have previously circulated details from CIBSE and the HSE. Perhaps we should also look at the Building Regulations 2000, Approved Document L2B Conservation of fuel and power in existing buildings which actually has the following on lighting:

“59. Lighting controls should be provided so as to avoid unnecessary lighting during the times when daylight levels are adequate or when spaces are unoccupied. However, the operation of automatically switched lighting systems should be the subject of a risk assessment for safety and suitability.

60. Reasonable provision would be local switches in easily accessible positions within each working area or at boundaries between working areas and general circulation routes that are operated by the deliberate action of the occupants (referred to as occupant control), either manually or remotely.

Manual switches include rocker switches, push buttons and pull cords. Remote switches include wireless transmitters and telephone handset controls……

61. The distance on plan from any local switch to any luminaire it controls should generally be not more than six metres, or twice the height of the light fitting above the floor if this is greater. Where a space is a daylit space served by side windows, the perimeter row of lighting should in general be separately switched”.

Therefore if you do not have control over your lighting, if the light switch is more than 6 metres away from the light, and if there aren’t separate switches along the perimeter row of lighting along the windows then the lighting may well be unsuitable. If this is the case and you suffer any potential lighting associated problems then it would be advisable for you to indicate on the DSE RA that the lighting is not suitable.

All these points have been raised with the employer.

If you have already completed a DSE RA and are unhappy with the lighting then ask for the DSE RA to be reviewed.

If you have any problems with the lighting please contact your site Branch Office.