Lighting design in the workplace a challenge for Egyptian designer

Abstract

Introduction: There are no health and safety legislation to lay a strict duty on employers to ensure that workplaces in Egypt, are sufficiently illuminated. International standards are imposed only when an international facility or building is to be illuminated. This has caused the provision of both ambient or background lighting with no requirement whatsoever to maintain safe working areas or specific lighting at machinery and workstations where a higher level of lighting may be required because of the hazards arising from work activities. The characteristics of the Egyptian workforce is noticeably different from their counterparts around the world with their visual performance and workplace requirements. Lighting design should be considered with right and proper consideration requiring the application of relevant requirements based on a study of the visual performance of the Egyptian population and work activities of Egyptian workplaces. Statement of the problem: can be summarized in two questions; are commonly used lighting specifications and design codes applied in Egypt adequate for the Egyptian workforce?. Does the available equipment and lighting fixtures designed for other populations adequate for the Egyptian workforce? Objectives; the study has been designed to identify the requirement of lighting design in the Egyptian workplaces thus providing tools and specification for the lighting design in workplace to provide adequate and sufficient levels of illumination. Results: The proper planning for a lighting system as a part of the working environment is essential to create a safe and comfortable workplace. Also it was evident that lighting system in a workplace should take into consideration the maintenance and cleaning of such equipment because of the dusty environment adherent to Egypt. The study also emphasized that a lighting system for the workplace in Egyptian cities should be as flexible and energy saving as possible. The study also assured that the lighting design as a system integrated to workplace should avoide fatigue and lack of concentration..