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Overview.

This guidance explains how lighting contributes to the health and safety of people at work. It is however not focusing on maximising performance or enhancing aesthetic appearance of the space. The guide recognises the costly consequences of poor lighting in the workplace and directs the responsibility for health and safety to employers.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSW) require employers to have arrangements in place to cover health and safety. This includes lighting which needs to be suitable and adequate to meet the requirements of the Workplace Regulations.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety, dedicated to protecting people and places. 

The HSG38 Lighting at Work Guide is a guidance setting requirements for how lighting supports the health and safety of people at work. Last updated in 2021, this guide is primarily addressed to employers and safety personnel.

The guide consists of three primary considerations; management of health and safety risks in connection to poor lighting, what constitutes a good practice, and the minimum recommended lighting levels.

More detail.

health and safety lighting HSG38

Managing the Health and Safety Risks

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health and safety good practice

Good Practice

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minimum lighting recommendations HSG38

Minimum Lighting Recommendations

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Prepared by the 299 Lighting technical team. Standards and regulations are revised from time to time, so contact us and we will confirm the current requirements for your project.

Written by the 299 Lighting technical team · First published 4 January 2023 · Last updated 5 November 2026

This guide summarises the standard for specifiers. Always check the current published edition for your project. Ask our team a question

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