Loading bays are a critical area for safety in warehouses and industrial facilities. The combination of vehicles entering and exiting the facility, coupled with the presence of staff and forklifts means that there is a high risk of accidents without good quality lighting systems that meet and exceed health and safety guidelines.

The importance of proper lighting in loading bays

Loading bays are a critical area for safety in warehouses and industrial facilities. The combination of vehicles entering and exiting the facility, coupled with the presence of staff and forklifts means that there is a high risk of accidents without good quality lighting systems that meet and exceed health and safety guidelines.

Providing excellent visibility at all times

Even during daylight hours, natural light may not be sufficient for safety in all areas and may need to be supplemented to ensure that drivers, forklift operators, and workers can see clearly, to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.

Floodlighting should be installed at high levels to provide balance good overall illumination levels with a high degree of uniformity. Under canopies, luminaires such as ACL Industry can be installed above door level to provide additional lighting into vehicles.

Improving efficiency and flow of goods

Good lighting throughout the loading bay area improves the efficiency of workers when performing operations by allowing staff to perform tasks quickly and accurately.

Improving security to reduce loss

Busy loading bay areas can have high levels of traffic day and night. Well-lit areas improve the overall security of the area by improving the effectiveness of cameras to prevent theft and vandalism.

Floodlighting at high level, coupled with post top lighting should be used to provide high levels of illumination while minimising glare that could cause eye strain for drivers entering and leaving the facility.

Guidelines for lighting levels

According to CIBSE LG1 – The Industrial Environment, the recommended lighting level for loading bays is 150lux. This level of illumination provides sufficient visibility for safe and efficient operations. However, specific requirements may vary depending on the nature of the tasks performed and the layout of the loading bay.

Using the appropriate type of luminaire throughout loading areas is important. High bay lights in the warehouse provide bright and uniform lighting that reduces risk indoors. Outdoor lighting should be a minimum IP65 rated to protect against dust and water ingress and reduce time lost to maintenance.

Using floodlights above bays allows the interior of vehicles to be illuminated during loading and unloading operations and protects staff. Consideration should be given to the movement of pedestrian traffic through the area. Mounting floodlights between the roller doors will flood the working area with light while also providing illumination between parked vehicles to improve safety levels.

Using smart lighting controls to further improve safety

Combining appropriate luminaires with smart lighting controls improves the efficiency and safety of the loading bay area.

The use of motion sensors ensures that an area is well lit when it is in operation while also reducing waste and improving efficiency. The use of sensors in an area also means that any workers moving from an area that is not currently in use for loading are still protected if vehicles are entering or leaving the facility.

When planning the location of motion sensors, the movement and positioning of vehicles in the service yard should be considered. HGVs with high sides can affect the line of sight for conventional motion detectors and make them less effective. Integrating motion sensors into the luminaires provides a much wider field of view and improves control of lighting for safety purposes.

Measuring natural light levels and adjusting illumination accordingly helps to reduce energy usage while also maintaining appropriate levels of illumination for safety day and night.

Find out more

Ensuring that a working environment is safe while working towards improved energy efficiency is essential for the wellbeing of workers. Speak to a member of our industrial lighting team to discuss your requirements when improving the loading bay lighting in your facility.