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Are there specific regulations for lighting?
Do you know the rules and regulations for lighting on construction sites?
Many believe there are no specific requirements or regulations related to work lighting in the construction industry, but that is not the case.
We spoke with the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority about whether there are regulations for lighting on construction sites and why it is so important.
Poor lighting can increase the risk of injuries and serious accidents. According to the Workplace Regulations § 2-11, workspaces and workplaces must be designed and equipped to ensure that each workstation has adequate lighting to protect the safety and health of workers.
"In the Workplace Regulations, it is clearly stated that all workplaces, including construction sites, must have adequate lighting. This applies to construction sites, whether the work is carried out indoors or outdoors. Outdoor and underground workplaces must be sufficiently illuminated with artificial lighting if natural light is not adequate. Additionally, pathways must also be lit where necessary for safety reasons»
Anne Sørum
Senior Engineer in the Inspection Department at the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority.
To ensure that a workplace is safe and that various businesses maintain a high standard regarding health, work environment, and safety, the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority conducts inspections. Inspections are the most important and effective tool of the Labour Inspection Authority for monitoring compliance with the provisions of the Working Environment Act and related regulations across different industries. The construction industry is among the sectors with the highest number of reported workplace accidents and fatalities due to work-related injuries, making it the industry subject to the most inspections.
«We conduct inspections at construction sites throughout the year. We see that more and more people are using LED strips for general lighting and supplementing them with work lamps»,
LED Lights Have Many Advantages
The Norwegian Working Environment Act requires adequate lighting in the workplace, and good working light is about a combination of direct and indirect lighting. Direct lighting is often referred to as task lighting, while indirect lighting is known as ambient lighting.
Task lighting should illuminate the specific area where you are working, while ambient lighting should satisfactorily light up the surroundings at all times. One solution, for example, is to install strip lights/LED strips on the ceiling for general lighting, while various work lamps provide task lighting where additional light is needed. Common to both types of lighting is that LED technology is preferred.
«The advantages of LED lights are numerous. They save money, reduce environmental impact in terms of energy consumption and waste, pose a lower fire risk, and the technology continually improves, offering increasingly varied solutions»,
Promitto Group AS specializes in linear LED lighting and is focused on developing the best and safest LED lighting solutions for the construction industry. They invest in new technology, high quality, and innovative solutions, aiming to create value for their customers through solutions that save time, environment, and money.
«Our LED lighting solutions are flexible and can be used both indoors and outdoors. They provide very comfortable working light that is non-glare and easy to handle and install. Additionally, LED lighting consumes less electricity, which is especially important in today's market with high energy prices»,
Good Lighting Should Be Prioritized on Construction Sites
The construction industry is one of the most accident-prone sectors in Norwegian working life, both in terms of work-related fatalities and injuries. Although there are variations from year to year, the number of work-related fatalities and the rate of fatalities per 100,000 employed have remained relatively stable in recent years. In 2020, there were 2,498 reported work injuries and 8 fatalities in the construction sector.
While it is not possible to directly link inadequate lighting as a cause of workplace accidents, there is no doubt that proper and effective work lighting leads to safer, faster, and better work practices.
«We are continuously working to contribute to safe workplaces and strengthen the systematic health, safety, and environment (HSE) efforts in various businesses, including through inspections. If we uncover violations of regulations, we take action, such as issuing orders, and in cases of serious breaches or repeated violations, we may consider imposing fines. Businesses must plan their work and assess risks. Lighting conditions and illumination should be included in the risk assessment with accompanying measures to ensure good lighting conditions»,
Anne Sørum
Senior Engineer in the Inspection Department at the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
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