Reduced level of lighting at workplace makes colleagues unwell.

Yereo

My wife works for a shop. Today, she came home with a splitting headache and almost sick. A few other colleagues had headaches as well. Reason is that the store has reduced the level of lighting to reduce costs! We can think of other ways to reduce costs without affecting the health of customers and those that work for the store.

Customers were also complaining about this and my wife overheard one customer that they will never do anymore shopping at this store again because of the lighting.

She is part of the union. Does she have any rights to complain about the issue? What will happen if a customer or shop worker has an accident and says the poor lighting is to blame?

silkyuk9

There must be a law regarding lighting. In our work place there are rooms that have had all lightning changed as people work there for an 8 hour shift. I would speak to the union regarding this before you ask manager etc to change them, get your facts together then complain.

ohreally

Yereo wrote: »

She is part of the union. Does she have any rights to complain about the issue?

Absolutely, contact h&s rep and raise concerns - (she may wish to consider copying in the employer).

The maintenance guys can also take readings around the shop with a luminance meter to provide management with quantifiable readings.

The employer has a duty placed on them to ensure lighting levels are suitable and sufficient...http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004/regulation/8/made

Lighting levels can be found in BS EN 12464-1 2002

Adequate levels would be around 300 - 600 lux.