Psychology of Productivity with Lighting

Have you ever worked in a warehouse or distribution center? If you have, you know first-hand that safety and efficiency are essential for successful day-to-day operations. To maintain a productive environment, warehouse spaces must have a lighting system that works well, so employees can see properly and perform tasks better.

If a warehouse isn’t well lit, employees are at greater risk of having a serious accident or making a costly error. As offices nationwide upgrade to LED lighting, many warehouses and loading docks are also making the switch. They’re replacing old, outdated fluorescent, incandescent, and HID lights to energy-efficient LEDs.

How is LED warehouse lighting better for safety and productivity? By providing bright, long-lasting, even illumination, LED lighting allows warehouse workers to see clearly as they work without having to strain their eyesight. This leads to fewer mistakes and mishaps, which is better for business and your bottom line.       

How Lighting Affects Productivity in a Warehouse 

To maximize productivity in any warehouse, facility managers have to analyze numerous contributing factors – size of the space, shelving and racking layout, ceiling height, plus natural and artificial light sources.

When looking at lights, managers must choose a lighting system that’s not only reliable and cost-effective, it should also facilitate productivity, and allow employees to complete all aspects of their jobs with utmost safety. This is a lot to ask for, but today’s highly efficient LEDs can handle the task without a hitch.

Here are the main benefits associated with LED lighting for warehouse spaces:  

Longer lifespans – LED lights outlast fluorescent, incandescent, and HID bulbs for years, even decades, which means less maintenance time and fewer associated costs. 

Energy efficiency – Compared to other traditional light sources, LEDs use significantly less energy, which leads to lower utility bills, and more long-term savings.

High quality illumination – Advanced technology allows LEDs to produce crisp, clear light, similar to natural daylight, which is better for visibility, comfort, and alertness while working.

Still not sure where to start? We can help! TCP has LED lighting solutions that are the perfect fit for your commercial warehouse. First, let’s talk about the best warehouse LED fixtures and how they can streamline production, boost morale, and save money down the road.

Types of Lighting for Warehouses

Before selecting specific lights and fixtures for your warehouse facility, it’s helpful to know how many lumens are required to properly illuminate the space. Of course, a variety of factors influence how to determine the best luminosity for a space. This includes square footage, distance between the floor and ceiling, and the types of products that are stored and handled within the warehouse.

As a general rule, smaller-sized products need brighter illumination. As opposed to larger products that are easier to work with, easier to see, and therefore require slightly less luminosity.

These simple guidelines should help when figuring lumen output per square foot in a basic warehouse facility, which also is referred to as foot-candles.

For warehouses that handle large items, the ideal lumen output averages around 10 lumens per square foot.

For warehouses that handle small items, the ideal lumen output averages around 30 lumens per square foot. 

Here are other important questions to ask when considering new lighting for a warehouse:

How high are the shelves or stacked products? If shelves or stacked items are arranged high, almost to the warehouse ceiling, you will need more lighting, or brighter luminosity for proper illumination. 

What color temperature should the lights be? Color temperature significantly impacts production and safety in a warehouse. A bright, crisp white light ranging between 4000K and 5000K is preferred for warehouse environments. Anything that ranges lower can make workers feel drowsy, or interfere with proper visibility. 

How should the lights be distributed? Warehouse lighting systems need to emit light that corresponds to the facility layout. If aisles are narrow, and shelving is tall, the lighting should follow a similar long, skinny configuration. If spaces are wide open, the lights should also feature a wide illumination pattern.

Does the warehouse have special conditions, such as wet areas, or caustic materials? If this is the case, you’ll want to consider specially designed light fixtures, such as wet rated fixtures, or impact and vapor-proof options.

A typical warehouse is designed with multiple spaces, and each area has its own distinct function. Because each area is unique, you will most likely need a variety of different lights to illuminate the overall space. From narrow aisle ways, to spacious loading docks, TCP has LED lighting options best suited for the needs of your warehouse or industrial space.

• LED Linear High Bays
• UFO LED High Bay Luminaires
• QTL Series High Bays
• LED General Purpose Strips
• QTL Series General Purpose Strips
• LED Surface Mounted Luminaires
• RHB Premium Round High Bays
• Wet Location LED Bulbs

Plus, many of the latest LEDs can direct light where it’s needed most, such as on products or shelving, instead of straight down towards the floor.

Lighting Impacts Employee Productivity 

In addition to saving energy and reducing utility bills, LED lights can also improve employee satisfaction and morale. The excessive heat and dim or flickering light produced by HID and other commonly used warehouse lights can cause frustration and fatigue among workers. When employees work under the bright, even light of LEDs, they can have improved attitudes and more energy throughout the busy work day.  

A typical warehouse has safety hazards around every corner. Proper lighting protects your work staff from potentially dangerous situations, and can prevent costly insurance claims. 

Here’s how lighting affects productivity and why it’s important to have the best warehouse LED fixtures: 

Reduces worker mistakes

Inadequate lighting can create dark zones in a large warehouse facility, especially one without windows or skylights. A well-lit space allows employees to see product labels and paperwork clearly, which means fewer mispicked products, or costly shipping and manufacturing errors.

Prevents heavy machinery accidents

Forklifts, scissor lifts, and manufacturing equipment are heavy machinery items that are commonly used in most warehouses. When workers who operate these heavy machines can’t see where they’re going, or what they’re doing, this creates a hazardous work environment. Reliable LED warehouse lighting allows machine operators to work safely, and confidently, without damaging property or injuring fellow employees.  

Counteracts worker fatigue 

When a warehouse space appears dark or dim, employees are more likely to feel tired throughout the day. With good LED lighting and the right color temperature, workers should maintain peak performance while staying alert, focused, and motivated.   

Creates better morale 

Happy employees and positive attitudes lead to a better work environment for everyone in your warehouse. A properly illuminated space that allows workers to do their jobs better helps build staff loyalty. This leads to less turnover and reduces the amount of constant retraining, which is ideal for running a smooth and efficient operation.    

TCP Lighting for a More Productive Warehouse

Designing a warehouse lighting plan with TCP is a big step toward advancing efficiency and productivity. With our top-of-the-line LED lighting technology, your employees will feel safe, motivated, and satisfied by their work environment. 

Are you ready to upgrade your commercial warehouse lighting? Contact a TCP lighting expert today!