If you own or manage a business premises, no doubt you will be keenly aware of the need to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It is designed to protect employees and visitors, and buildings and equipment. All businesses with workplaces with five or more employees must keep a written record of their health and safety policy.

The policy must be reviewed and if necessary updated on a regular basis to ensure that it is still relevant and complies with any changes in legislation. This not only protects employees, but also protects employers from potential legal claims and severe penalties if they are found to be at fault as a result of negligence on their part. 

One aspect of health and safety at work that should not be overlooked is lighting. For example, shatterproof light covers and sterilised lighting are widely regarded as essential in the catering and healthcare industry. In all types of workplace, correct lighting levels are vital for ensuring that staff can carry out their duties safely and effectively. 

The Importance of Shatterproof Lighting in High-Risk Environments

Shatterproof light covers are coated in a specialised liquid that is designed to hold the glass in place even if it should break. This prevents potentially thousands of glass shards from scattering over the room and its contents. This is vital in commercial kitchens and other areas where food is being prepared or served. 

Not only does it prevent serious injuries, but it also saves operational costs in terms of shutdown and clean up time, and the waste of contaminated products that need to be thrown away. 

The benefits in the healthcare industry are also very clear, particularly in operating theatres where the spillage of broken glass could be potentially fatal. Any areas where medications and treatments are being prepared and delivered to patients are extremely vulnerable. 

Sterilised lighting solutions

The hospitality and healthcare sectors can also benefit greatly from sterilised lighting solutions. They help to maintain sterile environments in places such as hospitals, clinics, and commercial kitchens, helping to maintain stringent hygiene standards at all times. 

Sterilised lighting can help to manage biological hazards, helping hospitals keep so-called superbugs at bay, which have built a resistance to regular cleaning products and even strong antibacterial cleaners. Pathogens such as E.coli and MRSA present a serious threat to human health and need to be carefully controlled. 

Poor hospital hygiene can cause infections to spread rapidly, putting vulnerable patients and staff at risk. It also damages the reputation of the hospital and leads to poor Care Quality Commission ratings, and potentially may lead to fines or other penalties that may harm the functionality of the hospital further.