How Forensic Lighting Analysis Boosts Productivity and Workplace Safety

Business operations vary drastically across industries. What works for a proper mom-and-pop retail store on Main Street U.S.A. will be incredibly different for a precision machining facility dealing with ordinance for the military.

As part of those operations, you want fully functional lighting so your team members and guests can see all the work you do. Without adequate lighting, you may see an increase in workplace accidents, poor productivity, and potential legal liabilities. Getting forensic lighting analysis offers you a proactive approach to fix systems and workplace environments before they become a problem.

Understanding Forensic Lighting Analysis

You may have never heard of forensic lighting analysis before. It is the practice of providing adequate and safe light intensity, distribution, glare, and contrast inside your workspace. You want lighting that meets and exceeds the required visibility standards so you get the productivity and safety records you need.

The goal of such an analysis can help in a number of ways, including:

• Enhancing Workplace Safety: Poor illumination is one leading cause of workplace accidents like slipping on a mat, tripping down stairs, or falling off a platform. It can also contribute to poor reading lighting when labels and ingredients are crucial to safety product safety and integrity.
• Boosting Employee Productivity: Employees crave a safe and well-designed workspace. The way light interacts with reflective surfaces, and the tone/color/intensity you utilize makes a difference. Insufficient or excessive lighting can and will cause eye strain. It may lead to discomfort or fatigue, which affects employee productivity.
• Ensuring Regulatory Compliance: OSHA and other regulatory/oversight bodies require safe and specific lighting for workspaces. Without proper compliance, you can end up paying excessive fees or legal penalties. Not to mention the negative press these infractions could cause to your reputation with the public and prospective clients.
• Preventing Potential Liabilities: Best of all, proper forensic lighting analysis helps you avoid liabilities. No business wants to pay out significant medical bills or lawsuits due to poor lighting. Having the right systems in place proactively protects your operations.

Imagine for a moment you have to clean your attic or old garage. Without proper lighting, you run the risk of tripping over something sharp or grabbing a cord that sparks a fire. Visibility is one of the key ways we explore the world, and proper lighting ensures you see all you and your team need to see.

The Forensic Lighting Analysis Process

At Dreiym Engineering, we use a number of modern tools and processes to ensure you have the proper lighting in place for your business. While every client is in a unique situation, you can expect to see a process similar to the following:

• Scene Documentation: We look through your business’s entire work area and other key locations to identify existing lighting systems and environmental conditions.
• Comprehensive Survey: Next, we will consider any factors that might contribute to inadequate lighting, such as a branch obstructing the view, overly reflecting surfaces, or where your equipment is placed.
• Precise Measurements: Our experienced engineers use a number of specialized tools and instruments to access light intensity, uniformity, glare, shadows, and more.
• Detailed Reporting: We generate a comprehensive report outlining findings, data collected, and what recommendations we have for enhanced lighting conditions – including meeting local, state, and federal regulations.

Our goal is to help you have a safe and productive space so everyone feels adequately supported in their daily activities.

Proactive Measures and Expert Collaboration

Lighting is an interesting study. What may feel right for your home office, using lowlight and dimmer switches simply will not cut it for a highly efficient productivity line in a pharmacy. Everything from spotlighting to emphasis on a specific workstation to eco-friendly options that don’t sacrifice quality illumination must be considered.

When you collaborate with experienced forensic engineers like our team at Dreiym Engineering, you benefit from years of working with all kinds of businesses and industries across Texas and beyond. We stay updated on the latest tools and technologies so you get a safe and easy-to-maintain workspace where lighting is no longer an issue, but a welcome partner in keeping everyone on task and comfortable.

Best of all, working with our team provides a preventative measure that mitigates risk. Instead of facing a lawsuit because an employee tripped down a flight of poorly lit stairs or a lack interest in your shop because guests don’t feel safe walking into a space with overly bright lighting, you get a location ready for your exact operations.

Industries That Benefit Most from Forensic Lighting Analysis

Every business can benefit from forensic lighting analysis. Improving the illumination of your space goes a long way toward safety, compliance, and operational efficiency. Some examples include:

• Extremely focused lighting on a patient table when conducting surgery or research labs.
• Proper illumination is needed to prevent injuries in a high-capacity product inspection area so errors are reduced.
• Showcasing products appropriately in a retail store so your monthly revenue streams remain robust.
• Reducing eye strain in a school so students can focus better on the materials being presented.
• Helping emergency responders keep the community safe with strategic outdoor lighting in remote locations.

The right lighting often comes down to the type of work your business performs and the environment in which your processes exist. Finding that proper balance is what our experienced and expert engineers provide.

Final Thoughts

Forensic lighting analysis may seem like an odd way to boost productivity and employee safety, but without the correct lighting in your business, your risk for costly errors only increases. Misjudging the mitigating factors around your workspace can quickly lead to expensive mistakes, falls, accidents, and other issues.

Our team at Dreiym Engineering is here to help. As an expert firm based in Texas, we frequently work with high-risk clients in industries like industrial machinery or high-traffic locations like retail and educational facilities. Contact our team today, and let’s schedule a consultation so we can help your business achieve the illumination necessary for a safe, productive, and comfortable environment.

FAQs

How long does a forensic lighting analysis take?

The total duration of any of our forensic lighting analyses depends on the size of your space, the complexity of the task, and the surrounding environments. A small retail store may take only an hour or so, while a large industrial complex could require a couple of days. We want to see your space with as much consideration for time of day, season, and anything else affecting light performance, so we give the best recommendations.

What industries are most at risk for poor lighting?

Any industry relying on illumination can benefit from forensic lighting analysis. Businesses related to healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, education, and industrial production are all at heightened risk. Poor lighting directly causes many forms of error and reduces the productivity you need for success.

Can forensic lighting analysis be customized for different spaces?

Yes! In fact, forensic lighting analysis is one of the best tools to meet the specific needs of a given workspace. Having an experienced team of engineers consider the area’s purpose, tasks performed, and any industry-specific regulations often boosts your productivity and efficiency.