The lighting should be adapted to the work to be performed and it should be adapted to each individual's circumstances and needs. The lighting should be well thought out and function for seated work, standing work, working alone and working in groups.

Good light means that there is daylight and lighting so that you can perceive the room correctly, see well and have a good circadian rhythm.

Plan the light environment in the workplace

A carefully planned light environment not only improves the work environment, but can also have other positive effects, such as a more stimulating workplace. Lighting should make it easy to see and perform tasks and contribute to a pleasant environment that is stimulating for work.

Some of the basic requirements for good lighting are:

• sufficient light in the right place
• as little glaring light as possible
• an even light on the work surface
• no excessive contrast between work areas and their surroundings.

Poor lighting can lead to injuries

Incorrectly designed lighting means that employees' eyes become strained and can cause headaches. They may experience tension in the neck, shoulders, and back when they adjust the position of their head or body to see better, for example by bending to the side to avoid a glaring light source or bringing their head forward to see more clearly.

Poor visual ergonomics can also increase muscle tension in the neck and shoulders even without changing the position of the head and body. Many jobs require a high level of coordination between vision and motor skills. Both dim lighting and glaring light can pose problems. The risk of accidents can also increase.

Flickering affects work

Flickering can be both visible and invisible and can cause stress reactions in the central nervous system. This can cause employees to become tired and therefore perform less well. Sensitive individuals are particularly affected.

Invisible flickering can also cause moving machine parts to appear to be stationary or moving more slowly than they actually are. Obviously, this is an accident risk.

Glare can lead to accidents

Glare is the visual impairment that can be created by bright surfaces within the field of view. For example, light sources and windows at the end of dark corridors can glare and increase the risk of tripping and falling.

Contrast glare can occur between freshly painted white surfaces and as yet unpainted dark surfaces, as well as in operating theatres with very high illumination levels in the operating area and relative darkness all around.

The lighting should be even and sufficiently bright

The lighting should provide an even and sufficiently bright light in the room. The contrast between the work object and the surrounding environment must take into account the employee's circumstances and the visual requirements of the work. Older employees in particular may find the lighting inadequate.

Work lamps give employees the ability to adjust the light

An employee who finds the lighting insufficient may need a work lamp in the working area. Work lamps must be adjustable and not glare.

Daylight provides the basis for the lighting in the premises

Daylight is the basis for lighting the premises during the bright part of the year and of the day and helps the workplace save energy by using less electric lighting. Daylight is also important for biological functions in the body to function so that employees feel good and can concentrate on their work tasks.

Someone who gets too little daylight can become tired and sleep worse the following night and a room without windows can feel closed in and isolated.

Design windows for the best light and view

How windows and light screens are designed is important because it determines the nature of daylight and how well it can be utilised, how much daylight enters the room and whether the light is glaring or not.

Windows at the workplace are important for bringing in daylight and for being able to see out. The ability to look out gives employees a view of their surroundings and information about things like the weather. It also provides variety in the work and helps them to de-stress.

Standards for light and lighting

There are two standards for light and lighting in the workplace. One specifies lighting requirements for indoor workplaces and what is required to meet the needs for visual comfort and visual performance, for people with normal visual capacity. The second addresses lighting for outdoor workplaces. The standards may be bought from the Swedish Standard Institute, SIS (sis.se).

Lighting requirements for indoor workplaces

Standard SS-EN 12464-1:2021, standard for lighting of indoor workplaces

Lighting requirements for outdoor workplaces

Standard SS-EN 12464-2:2014, standard for lighting of outdoor workplaces