Energy saving light bulbs - if they break

barrymung

some with a hidden agenda maybe? or am I just a cynic

I believe the EU has ordered the UK to reduce carbon emissions by a certain amount withinm so many years. If the UK does not comply then I suspect we'll get hit with a fine of some sort.

Rather than spend money tackling emissions from inductry, the Government impose restrictions on Joe Public in the hope that he'll do all that is required.

geordie_joe

barrymung wrote: »

When I was at school they gave you mercury to play experiment with, in Chemistry!!

Me too, but that was in the 60/70's when people were a lot tougher.

rmb282

Do a search on Wikipedia for Amalgam..... interesting stuff, we even have it in our mouths.... fillings?

beach86

Its only a real issue if you work in a factory producing these light bulbs or if you have just brought a massive box of them, drop them and they all break. Not very likely!

The benefits of EE light bulbs far outweigh this slight risk. I agree with the comments on HSE! Dont they have anything better to do?!

Jo_F

I find that using the EE bulbs is not good for my health or productivity, as some one who works either on a computer or with beads (small and where colour match is important) I find that the bulbs just do not give off enough light and so cause eye strain and headaches.

geordie_joe

Jo_F wrote: »

I find that using the EE bulbs is not good for my health or productivity, as some one who works either on a computer or with beads (small and where colour match is important) I find that the bulbs just do not give off enough light and so cause eye strain and headaches.

You're not the only one, see here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7167860.stm

hannoja

Yeah I really dislike being 'bathed' in fluorescent light all day. False light in general bothers me, but when others insist on forcing me to spend the day 'drowning' in this stuff, when it's perfectly light outside, it really saps my energy. By the end of the day I feel tired and drained

These guidelines do seem a little OTT, and I can just imagine trying to achieve point 7... :rolleyes:

moonrakerz

These lights also give you skin cancer, migraine and irritable bowel syndrome if you believe all the c**p in the papers.
But the good news is that as they last 8 times longer than conventional light bulbs there will be an 87.5% reduction in the number of deaths of people who fall off chairs/tables/ladders whilst replacing bulbs - and of course those who electrocute themselves doing the same !

geordie_joe

moonrakerz wrote: »

But the good news is that as they last 8 times longer than conventional light bulbs

One of mine didn't, I installed it in the bathroom and the next day it stopped working. It was only switched on about four times and for long enough for me to have a pee!

moonrakerz wrote: »

there will be an 87.5% reduction in the number of deaths of people who fall off chairs/tables/ladders whilst replacing bulbs - and of course those who electrocute themselves doing the same !

Do people still do that? I thought the H&S people had stopped it. They have where I work, we now have to pay a contractor £90 to change our light bulbs.

The H&S rep said it was because the contractors are trained and qualified to change bulbs. A few weeks later, during my appraisal my boss asked what training I thought I would need. I said I needed to go on a light bulb changing course so I could be trained and qualified to change our light bulbs. I, or course would then change our light bulbs free of charge thus saving the company £90 each time a bulb popped.

She thought it was a good idea, but when she asked the H&S rep to recommend a good course he just laughed. Said there was no such course, you can't get trained or qualified in changing light bulbs.

Later I asked the man who changes out light bulbs what qualifications and training he had. None he said, I'm just a handy man, only got the job because I told them I do a lot of DIY at home. I was actually expecting him to have some sort of electrical training or qualification, so I could ask for the same training.

Hapless_2

Jo_F wrote: »

I find that using the EE bulbs is not good for my health or productivity, as some one who works either on a computer or with beads (small and where colour match is important) I find that the bulbs just do not give off enough light and so cause eye strain and headaches.

Which is why I use energy saver daylight bulbs. They have a blue light rather than yellow, a lot brighter, are also better for SAD sufferers and do not flicker as much. (we have an epileptic daughter)