Iran Occupational Health

Background and aims: Work environment illumination affects on productivity, accidents, and workers' physical and mental health. Therefore, illumination evaluation and determine workstations which need light modification could be helpful to develop workers' health and safety.

Methods: This study was performed in one of the biggest company in Zanjan province to evaluate illumination depending on GIS. According to IES, the sensor of testo 545 luxmeter was put in height of 30 inches (76 cm) from the floor of the shop. Then total, natural and artificial illuminations were measured in center of each station in lux. These data were entered into Arcview software as input data for analyzing. Thus the quantities of illumination and the area coverage percent and isolux curves for each of those stations were obtained.

Results: The results showed that illumination in this shop is desirable. In which, the coverage of total, natural and artificial illumination were 99, 5 and 70 percent, respectively. Therefore, the artificial illumination will be improved by minor modification.

Conclusion: This study showed the usefulness of application of GIS method in evaluating of workplace illumination. The method could be useful to determine the exact point in workplace which needs modifications and decreases costs.