Improving Operational Safety: Upgrading to Industrial-Grade LED Lighting Systems

Every year in this country, millions of workers are injured at the workplace. While any commercial, industrial, or warehouse position comes with its own inherent risks, plant operators and business owners can drastically reduce the amount of accidents that occur simply by upgrading their lighting systems.

Poor lighting is one of the most common causes of workplace injury, whether it is slipping on an unseen hazard or not being able to see the equipment adequately. Old, outdated lighting fixtures not only provide a poor quality of light, but they have also been shown to increase fatigue and drowsiness, especially in overnight shift work. For someone working with machinery and equipment, fatigue can pose a threat to more than just the individual.

A safer, more well-lit environment is key for maintaining workplace safety. Because the sun isn’t always shining in Scottsdale, investing in a safe, cost-saving commercial LED lighting system is nothing short of a bright idea.

Here are a few more ways that LED lights can reduce workplace accidents:

1.  LEDs Make People Feel More Alert

While it is no surprise that fatigue and drowsiness are some of the most significant threats to worker safety, the fact that LEDs can actually make people feel more alert is a big surprise indeed. According to an article in the Journal of Environmental Management, the increased Color Rendering Index of LED lighting compared to traditional fixtures can make people feel five times more alert.

The difference between tripping on a hazard and stepping safely around it can be as small as a couple of milliseconds. As we mentioned above, this is particularly important for industrial and warehouse operations that utilize overnight shift workers.

2.  Less Maintenance Is Required with LED Fixtures

Every time that you have to send someone up a ladder to change a light bulb, you are putting that person, and indeed the people around them, in more danger than they need to be. LED lights can last approximately 50 times longer than regular incandescent bulbs, which is not only going to keep your employees or maintenance contractors off the top of a tall ladder, but it is also going to save you a considerable amount of money in the long run.

3.  LEDs Have Much Faster Output

If your industrial or commercial operation suffers from an unexpected power loss, then it might take more time than you think to get all the lights back on and running. Anyone with a warehouse can tell you how long it takes for traditional overhead lighting to “warm up” to their maximum brightness. Overhead LED fixtures have no excessive startup time. They are designed to come on immediately. This is particularly helpful if the power goes out in the middle of the night; nothing is going to cause more expensive accidents than losing all visibility for 30 minutes or more.

4.  No Mercury Exposure

They might not realize it, but anyone who is still operating with high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting systems is not only missing out on incredible time and energy savings, but they are also putting their tenants, employees, or customers in direct danger. That’s because HPS light bulbs contain mercury vapor, and no small amount of it. All it would take is one lighting accent to expose your people to harmful poison.

Whether you’re operating out of Scottsdale or somewhere else in the country, the safety benefits of commercial LED lighting fixtures is apparent through the increased alertness, reduced maintenance, and safer construction that they offer over traditional light bulbs. When it comes to the long-term health and well being of commercial and industrial workers, there is perhaps no more effective investment.