How wireless lighting can improve health and productivity in the workplace

No matter how beautifully designed a work place may be, there is one area that can ultimately make or break the productivity of the space: the lighting. Aaron Watts of Ignition Search finds out more…

Unfortunately, due to the large floor space that many offices require, natural light can be limited meaning that lighting in the workplace isn’t always perfect. Subsequently, the employees who are forced to work in these poorly lit environments are unlikely to achieve their full potential. 

Aside from causing physical issues such as eye-strain and headaches, poor lighting levels can also have an extremely negative effect on morale and productivity. 

Beautifully impractical

The trend for repurposing industrial buildings into offices presents a prime example of workspaces in which it may be difficult to maintain natural lighting. 

While hese huge old buildings may hold great aesthetic appeal, the aesthetics themselves can actually create problems when it comes to installing sufficient lighting to illuminate the entire space. 

Old plasterwork and exposed bricks are often seen as desirable features; however, the practicalities of drilling into them to conceal wiring can be problematic. Antique plaster is highly likely to crumble and crack, creating superficial, and possible even structural, damage to the walls. 

Equally, running cabling up the face of exposed brickwork will also lessen the aesthetics.

As a result of these limitations, industrial refurbishments may end up with lack-lustre lighting, creating an equally lack-lustre work force, despite the slick design intentions.

Innovative lighting solutions

Advances in modern technology, in the form of wireless lighting systems, present a great solution for recreating natural lighting. As the system is controlled remotely via smartphone or tablet, brightness can be adjusted ‘light by light’ to create a bespoke lighting effect to suit different areas of the space. 

Due to the wireless nature of the product, there is no need to disturb walls or ceilings, offering an instant solution with minimum installation. 

Another huge benefit of wireless lighting is that it can be sensor-operated and timed to be operated only at particular times of the day, resulting in significant reductions in wasted energy. 

Choosing the most effective lighting for the job

Instead of trying to achieve a ‘one size fits all’ lighting solution for the entire workspace, wireless lighting is a great way of adjusting lighting levels to suit particular areas and tasks.

In jobs where fast, accurate production is essential, such as on an assembly line, bright lighting has been proven to increase turnaround. There are several reasons for this: bright light instills a sense of urgency in an employee, encouraging them to work faster. 

On a practical level, a well-lit room also helps to improve accuracy when performing intricate tasks.

At the other end of the scale, dimmer lighting has been linked to creative productivity, producing a more relaxed atmosphere that encourages free-thinking.  

Taking a more bespoke approach to office lighting will undoubtedly turn an uninspiring work environment into a more productive office workspace, with the immeasurable advantage of enhancing wellbeing, health and positivity amongst employees.