Workers see the light; full spectrum, that is
June 1, 2000 3 minutes read
Workers see the light; full spectrum, that is
Bringing the sun inside’ promotes health
Employers can improve the health of their employees dramatically simply by "bringing the sun inside the workplace," says Michael Nevins, president of Jackson, MI-based Full Spectrum Solutions. This is accomplished, says Nevins, by replacing traditional light bulbs with bulbs that provide the full spectrum of light — the complete range of rays from ultraviolet to infrared, with the rainbow colors violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red in between.
"Full-spectrum light is available in abundance in the form of sunlight," Nevins explains. "And we need natural sunlight, both physically and mentally. The problem for us, unfortunately, is that most of our waking hours are spent indoors and at work, and this deprivation of natural sunlight has been linked to health and productivity problems."
More specifically, scientists have identified a condition they call seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or the "winter blues." It is characterized by symptoms of depression, energy loss, and irritability. Poor lighting can also contribute to headaches and eyestrain. "That’s because traditional light bulbs have too much of the wavelengths in the yellow or blue region of the spectrum, and not enough of the other areas," Nevins explains. "It’s why light bulbs in your desk lamp appear to cast a yellowish glare and fluorescent bulbs emit an eerie blue glow."
Putting it to the test
Ralph Dahner, program coordinator for the Mighty Vines Wellness Club in Cincinnati, has extensive experience with full-spectrum lighting. "Before I came here, I worked for the Bethesda Hospital rehabilitation and work injury prevention program," says Dahner. "We recommended their use there. It certainly helps reduce eyestrain, and reduces tension — especially in the trapezius area and the brachial plexus, which can affect the carpal tunnel. With full-spectrum lighting, the worker is more relaxed; in fact, I think it can even play a role in helping prevent repetitive injury."
His current role has him running a wellness facility funded by the Hamilton County Health Board. Part of his work entails helping individuals with mental health problems. "A lot of the research I’ve seen on sadness and depression notes real health benefits from full-spectrum lighting — especially during the winter," he notes. "Even without telling people we had new lighting, I got comments on how well they felt in the facility, and that they saw a noticeable difference in their desire to take their time working out."
Dahner even notices a significant change in his own productivity levels. "It’s like sunlight," he says. "I put bulbs over my desk in my office, and it has definitely helped in terms of productivity and work. It’s a whole lot easier to read, I don’t get the kind of glare I’d get with regular fluorescent bulbs, and it really brightens my mood."
What’s more, he says, the full-spectrum bulbs were not significantly more expensive than traditional bulbs. "We bought them in bulk, at maybe $5.50 or $5.60 per bulb. Regular bulbs may be a bit less, but we hooked up [with Full Spectrum Solutions] through the Internet, and it was much cheaper than retail vendors in our area. Someone had come in and given us an estimate of $10 or $11 per bulb. So, we got the best provider we could with the best-quality bulb."
Other employers have experienced similar benefits with the full-spectrum lights. "Companies that have taken advantage of full-spectrum lighting report increased profits from a reduction in error rates, improved employee morale, greater productivity, better quality control, and reduced absenteeism," says Nevins.
• Michael Nevins, Full Spectrum Solutions, 1826 Horton Road, Jackson, MI. Telephone: (517) 796-4770. Web site: www.paralite.com.
• Ralph Dahner, Mighty Vine Wellness Club, 2347 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH 45219. Telephone: (513) 241-9355.
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