[Lighting condition analysis at work].

Abstract

Following a wide review of the national and international technical standards which make up the principal reference points when designing illumination systems for work areas, the most commonly used methods of photometric analysis are examined from both a medical and technical point of view. It can be observed that photometric analysis of the work place, which currently is almost exclusively based on the measurements of illuminance, does not appear to adequately reach the targets set by Occupational Health and Occupational Hygiene, for reasons pertaining to the anatomy and physiopathology of the visual function. Moreover, the procedures applied to evaluate the workers' subjectivity and/or symptomatology, that both in research and during on-site investigations makes use predominantly of self-administered questionnaires, shows some shortcomings in terms of reliability and validity. In conclusion, it is proposed, especially in studies regarding office environments (i) to carry out photometric analysis where primary and secondary luminance is always measured and, if light-linked subjectivity is required (ii) to make available valid and precise questionnaires whose administration be followed by a multivariate data analysis.