General Lighting Considerations

A crucial component to setting up your workstation is your lighting, which can be associated with vision problems (eyestrain, dry eyes, itchy / irritated eyes), health problems, and reduced work performance. Computer work can be particularly visually demanding.

Optimal Lighting For Your Work Space

Ambient Lighting

The ambient lighting you use should be low or glare free. Indirect or direct/indirect light fixtures provide the best lighting solutions for many offices. This kind of light fixture hangs from the ceiling and gives more even illumination.

Task Lighting

The task lighting you choose can be used to provide supplemental light for paper documents. If you do choose to use a task light to illuminate paper documents, be sure to:

• Choose a low glare, asymmetric lens.
• Choose an adjustable position task light and place it in a convenient position to light- colored documents without causing reflected glare in the computer screen.
• Position your task light to the side of the computer screen so that the light shines on paper documents rather than the monitor screen.

Lights or lighting behind the monitor can produce glare and make reading the monitor difficult. In workstations, make sure that any lighting is reduced or eliminated to make viewing easier, resulting in less eye strain.

Light Level

Your light level should be appropriate for your tasks. With too much ambient light your computer screen will look "washed out" because of veiling glare. This makes reading more difficult, and increases your chance of making reading/typing errors.

Windows

Use blinds or drapes to control the light from windows and avoid veiling glare that is caused by direct light shining on the monitor screen, washing out the images.

Fluorescent

Fluorescent lighting is preferable to other types of office lighting however, make sure your fluorescent lamp doesn't flicker.

Color

The lamps in your light fixtures should compliment your home office colors.
Cool white lamps will enhance blues and greens; warm white lamps will enhance yellows and reds. Optimize your room color by:

• Painting or papering the walls in a neutral colors
• Paint ceilings white or a light color (avoid dark ceilings)
• Use a neutral floor covering (carpet, wood, tile) with a low reflectance.
• Choose furniture (chairs, desks, file cabinets) with low range reflectance.
• Choose office technology with a neutral color and low range reflectance

Trouble Shooting Lighting Problems

Inadequate Lighting Levels

The area where you work is too dim or too bright, or the lighting fluctuates during the day because of bright sunlight.

Direct Glare From Light Fixtures

When you look at your computer screen, you can see bright objects reflected in the screen, such as lights, paper, or your clothes.

Reflected Glare on Computer Screens

When you look at your computer screen, you can see bright objects reflected in the screen, such as lights, paper, or your clothes.

Veiling Glare

When you look at your computer screen, it looks washed out because there is too much direct light falling onto the screen.

Harsh Lighting and Shadows

The lighting shines straight down from the fixtures, making the ceiling look dim and the office look gloomy. Another sign is when the lighting causes dark shadows on the faces of others in the room.