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(b) General impressions of the standards of lighting in offices and shops, when assessed
by visual inspection only, were favourable, but these general impressions were not always confirmed
when light meter readings were taken at salient points in various parts of the premises and compared
with the recommendations of the Illuminating Engineering Society set out above. This would
seem to emphasise the need for regulations prescribing statutory standards of lighting calling for
accurate measurement by light meter or other scientific aid.
(c) It was frequently found that recently-installed strip lighting was below these standards.
This indicates lack of knowledge on the part of employers and electrical contractors. An interesting
case was met at a London Electricity Board showroom, where desk lighting was only 18 lumens per
sq. ft. instead of the recommended minimum of 30.
(d) The most powerful lighting has been found in the sales areas of shops. Supermarkets,
modern chemists shops, greeting card shops, dress material shops and butchers seem to lead the
field in this respect.
Gown shops, men's clothing, shoe shops and public houses have been found frequently to
be either under standard or favouring the more gentle form of lighting; whilst some of the poorer
type of shops still using electric bulbs alone fell far below standard.
(e) Most employers seemed to appreciate the necessity for good lighting on staircases, but
staircases in general were found to be badly lit, more frequently because existing lights were not
switched on.
(f) Corridors have usually been found to be fairly well lit although often below the
recommended standard of 7-10 lumens. In the more modern type of offices with internal glass
partitions no problem arises, whilst, similarly, the opening of doors from well-lit rooms tends to
reduce any ill effect in the corridor outside.
(g) Toilets and wash rooms have been found to be worst Lit. Toilets particularly often
with no artificial lighting provided. In this respect 275 notices have been served during the year
under Sections 9 and 10 of the Act.
EXAMPLES OF UNSATISFACTORY LIGHTING
Unsatisfactory lighting usually fell under the following categories:-
(a) Insufficient power
(b) Power (bulbs and tubes) being too remote from work.
(c) Badly-positioned lights. Frequently a satisfactory light meter reading on a desk whilst
unoccupied became a bad reading when the individual sat down and threw a shadow across his work.
(d) Cupboards and cabinets in dark corners. Very poor light meter readings were obtained
in some offices in the vicinity of filing cabinets, but in no instance was it impossible to read a
file heading.
EXCESSIVE GLARE
This seems to be a specialist subject requiring some measure of training for the people
who are to advise employers in the future.
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