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A recent survey of 1,000 people by online fluorescent tube retailers LampShopOnline has revealed that nearly a quarter of office workers have changed a fluorescent tube at work, even though they don’t know how to do so safely.
This means workers are putting themselves at risk of injuries such as burns, falls, cuts, electrocution and even mercury poisoning.
Many business owners are unaware that it is their responsibility to maintain the lighting in the workplace, so the burden often falls on employees. The survey also showed that 58 percent of employees don’t actually know how to change a fluorescent tube, which presents a real safety issue if they are required to change a bulb themselves.
Faulty or dead fluorescent tubes in the workplace can cause health issues such as headaches, migraines and eye strain, which can cost businesses millions of pounds each year. Poor lighting can also put employees at risk of trips and falls, as well as reducing staff productivity.
Falls and trips due to inadequate lighting could lead to employers being sued, as failure to take responsibility for implementing the correct lighting at work may be illegal in some circumstances.
Rob Holroyd from LampShopOnline comments: “The results of the survey are worrying as employers are not taking responsibility for the lighting in their building, which is a key maintenance issue. The Health and Safety Executive states that employers are responsible for maintaining lighting in the workplace, so employers could actually be breaking the law by not stepping up and looking after their lighting.
“Employers need to regularly assess and maintain the lighting in their premises to ensure employees don’t have to take matters into their own hands and put themselves at risk.”
