Appropriate levels of lighting in car and bike parks help people to feel safe when walking to their car or bike. Lighting should also make it easy to locate your car or bike and leave the car or bike park.
Tips
- Good lighting should be available when the car or bike park is in use.
- Allow your eyes to adjust to changes in light levels.
Potential harm
- Slips, trips and falls
- Assault
Identified hazards and controls
Trips and slips
Cause
- Inadequate lighting in car or bike park.
What workers can do
- When you move from outside in the sun to inside the parking area with electrical lighting, you may need to stop and wait for a few seconds while your eyes adjust to the different lighting levels.
- Consider wearing flat shoes for the journey, especially if you are walking a distance, to avoid tripping or falling on uneven surfaces.
What employers can do
- If you, as the employer, are not the owner or manager of the car park, discuss safety issues with the car park owner.
Physical assault or robbery
Cause
- Blown lights
- Automatic sensor lights not working
What workers can do
- If you notice lights aren’t working let the parking manager or building owner know.
- Try to park in an area that is well lit.
- Walk to your parked car with a colleague.
- Some car parks have security guards on duty. You might want to ask them to escort you to your car or bike.
What employers can do
- If you, as the employer, are not the owner or manager of the car park, discuss safety issues with the car park owner.
More information
Guidance
- See Ergonomic hazards for more information on physical factors in the environment that may cause musculoskeletal injuries, such as sedentary work and slips, trips and falls, and how to eliminate these hazards.
- Undercover Car Park Lighting Design guide – enlighten knowledge centre.
Legislation
- Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 – Refer to regulation 335 Labelling hazardous chemicals and part 3.2 General Workplace Management.
Codes
Page last reviewed: 25 April 2021