Night shifts: Using LEDs to boost your bottom line

According to TUC analysis, one out of every nine British employees now works night shifts, with warehouse work steadily inching its way up the top 10 most common nocturnal occupations.

Shift work seriously disrupts the body clock and, as a result, is linked to a higher risk of heart disease, obesity and fatigue. It’s even been classified as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organisation.

So, what can you do to mitigate the impact that night working has on your staff? Here, Greenlite Group explains how LED lighting can cater for the unique demands of our nocturnal workforce, improving their wellbeing and boosting productivity in the process.

In contrast a good lighting design – using a mixture of LED high bays, task lighting and floodlights – has the power to transform the space. It can vastly improve comfort and visibility, reducing the risk of eyestrain and improving accuracy into the bargain. For fatigued night staff, these improvements could minimise potentially costly picking and packing mistakes, while also leading to a huge boost in both drive and productivity.

For example, the HSE recognises that bright lights (>6000 lux) could have the potential to trigger changes in the internal body clock, helping staff adjust to night work and feel more alert.

Safety first: Warehouses can be notoriously perilous places to work, with fatigue leaving night staff particularly vulnerable to accidents and injury.

Peace of mind: Just as travelling to work during antisocial hours can leave employees feeling vulnerable, night staff are unfortunately at greater risk of violence. But with sound security lighting, you can help employees feel safer. Ensure car parking, pathways and external storage areas are well-lit, with no patches of shadow to disguise unwanted visitors. It’ll give night staff peace of mind, encouraging them to feel more positive and focused when they clock on.