Safety Lighting - Types and Applications

In factories, industrial plants, and warehouses, work is performed with various large and heavy machines. Forklifts, cranes, robots, conveyor belts, furnaces, and boilers are just a few examples of equipment that can be found within an industrial building.

In such environments, ensuring the safety of employees and specialists is crucial. In addition to the safety mechanisms and functions built into the machines, the easiest and most effective method is to use additional signal lighting. Safety lighting effectively reduces the likelihood of accidents in factories, industrial plants, and warehouses.

What is safety lighting?

Safety lighting refers to LED lamps used on industrial vehicles, movable machines, or ceilings to define a safe distance from hazardous equipment or to designate a safe or dangerous area within an industrial facility. Using safety lighting allows employees and outsiders to move around the facility safely.

The choice of beam color helps determine the purpose of the lighting. Commonly used beam colors include:

• Green – usually indicates a safe area;
• Red – usually marks a hazardous area that should be avoided;
• Yellow – a beam that informs or alarms about potential danger;
• Blue – this color often informs workers about the reach of a machine or the area in which a machine operates.

Additionally, different projection masks can be used in conjunction with specific colors to simplify the message.

What types of safety lighting are used in industry?

Safety lighting includes lamps of specific power and various shapes. When selecting lights, it is essential to understand the task of the specific lighting. This could involve defining a certain area, marking a safe distance, setting a path for people or machines, or displaying information or messages.

Safety lighting can be divided into:

Zone lighting

Zone lighting defines the working area of a machine and sets a safe distance for others who are not operating the equipment or vehicle. This type of lighting is commonly found on forklifts and industrial cranes.

Area lighting

Area lighting specifies the purpose of a particular area, such as a path where employees should walk or a location where goods should be stored. By using different beam combinations, such as a green arrow beam with green area lighting in the form of a line, you can create an area that defines the path and direction of movement.

Informational lighting

Informational lighting typically includes custom-made lights that form specific words or phrases. These can complement area lighting or convey specific messages to employees, such as "NO ENTRY."

Technical aspects of safety lighting

To choose the right lamp for safety lighting, several key parameters must be determined. First and foremost is the power of the lamp. Depending on the type of lighting, the lamp will operate at different heights – for example, zone lighting for a forklift will be around 2 meters, while for a crane it may be over 5 meters. The lamp’s power must be selected according to the height and required brightness.

Depending on the length of area lighting, we can determine the number of lights needed to cover a given area. Linear lamps are often used for such applications as they typically create a long rectangular beam.

Color and type of lamp are additional important parameters. The color helps determine how employees should treat a given area, e.g., whether it is restricted or a work area for a machine.

The type of light typically refers to cataloged lamps based on their intended use, such as rear, side, and front zone lamps or linear, spot, or informational lamps. It is advisable to use cataloged lamp types in your projects, as custom-made lamps can be significantly more expensive due to non-standard solutions.

Safety lighting is used in various workshops, factories, and industrial warehouses. While it is not a mandatory component of industrial equipment, it significantly enhances worker safety and helps organize movement within the industrial facility.

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