How LED lighting can help improve the productivity of your night shift workers

Shift work has become a reality in our 24-7 society. Exposing night staff to the right light can have big implications for productivity and morale within a warehouse.

Working night shifts can have a detrimental impact on your health. Common problems are:

• Insufficient and restless sleep developing into chronic tiredness.

• Difficulty in going to sleep

• Drowsiness and a decrease in alertness during the night shift.

• Disturbed appetite and digestion

If your night shift workers are currently working under poor lighting, their mood and energy levels will significantly decrease. Constantly flickering fluorescent strips are commonly associated with eyestrain and headaches, therefore, leading to a decrease in the employee’s productivity. Washed out lighting will also only increase a night shift workers sense of fatigue.

What's the solution?

Bright lights work as a signal to the body to perk up and become a lot more motivated.

Evenly-lit and well-illuminated warehouse or office will have a positive impact on staff morale.

Having a good lighting design is key to improving working conditions. Using a range of lights including LED high bays, task lighting and floodlights has the power to really transform the workspace. It can significantly improve your employee's comfort and visibility at work, this, therefore, reduces the risk of eyestrain that fluorescent bulbs carry it also contributes to improving accuracy within the staff.

For tired staff members, it could potentially minimise picking and packing mistakes while also leading to boosting productivity.

While the needs of night shift workers lighting requirements should be taken into account so should those of the day workers. With a full LED system, it has the flexibility to change the colour and intensity of light needed for the time of day and needs of employees over a 24-hour period.   

The HSE has said that bright lights (>6000 lux) have the potential to trigger changes in the internal body clock, helping staff adjust to night work and feel more awake.

Likewise, a blue-rich light that more closely replicates daylight is also thought to suppress melatonin. The hormone Melatonin is produced by the brain’s pineal gland at night and helps to regulate the bodies sleep-wake cycle, therefore, by suppressing this it stimulates our bodies into wakefulness. LED lighting has the potential to help employees feel more energised when they would naturally crave sleep.

Another way to help boost the productivity of night shift workers is to make sure there is adequate security lighting around your warehouse of office space. These workers are more likely to be subjected to violence as they are travelling to work in antisocial hours and this can make them feel very vulnerable. You can make them feel safer by ensuring car parking, pathways and external storage areas are well lit with no shadows allowing unwanted visitors to hide.

At ElectriQL we work with our customers to find a tailored solution that uses products to fit their specific needs from both a visual and cost perspective. If you are considering changing your existing lighting to LED contact us today on 0800 917 5721. You can also email [email protected].