Illumination (general industry) - New York

New York has adopted many federal OSHA standards and incorporates them by reference. The New York Public Employee Safety and Health (PESH) Bureau plan applies to state and local government workers in the state. Federal and private sector employers must follow federal OSHA standards. However, New York labor law does require the following for lighting in factory settings:

• Proper lighting must be provided during working hours for:
  • All places where people work or pass, or may have to pass in emergencies;
  • All elevator cars and entrances;
  • All halls and stairs leading to workrooms;
  • All moving parts of machinery not required to be guarded and which are dangerous because of their location.
• In every factory workroom, the lighting shall not cause strain on the vision or glare in the eyes of workers.
• In public hallways, on each floor of the factory buildings, lighting must be provided during the working day from the time of opening until closing, except when natural light is sufficient. Lights shall be arranged to operate reliably in an emergency, even when other lights in the building are not working.

Related information

• Lighting - ezExplanation

Citations

• New York Lab L. 257 - Illumination
• 29 USC 654 — Duties of employers and employees (General Duty Clause)