California Code of Regulations
Title 8 - Industrial Relations
Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations
Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety
Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders
Group 2 - Safe Practices and Personal Protection
Article 7 - Miscellaneous Safe Practices
Section 3317 - Illumination

Universal Citation: 8 CA Code of Regs 3317

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) Working areas, stairways, aisles, passageways, work benches and machines shall be provided with either natural or artificial illumination which is adequate and suitable to provide a reasonably safe place of employment. Minimum illumination levels for safety alone are listed for various typical areas in Table IL-1. (Title 24, Part 2, Section 512, Table 5-C.)

TABLE IL-1

MINIMUM LEVELS OF ILLUMINATION FOR SAFETY

Hazards Requiring Visual Detection	Slight		High
Normal Activity Level	Low	High	Low	High
Areas	Storage Yards Offices Locker Rooms	Loading Areas Warehouses Corridors Washrooms Spray Booths Inspection Areas	Elevators Stairways Assembly Areas Layout Areas	Engine Rooms Processing Areas Machine Shops Sheet Metal Works Woodworking Shops
Footcandles	0.5	1.0	2.0	5.0

NOTES:

(1) To assure these levels at all times, higher initial levels need to be provided to compensate for their depreciation due to the decrease of light output of lamps with age and to the accumulation of dirt on lamps and room surfaces.

(2) For areas or operations not covered above, and for recommended illumination levels for efficient visual performance in varied tasks and areas, refer to ANSI/IES RP-7-1991, Practice for Industrial Lighting and ANSI/IES RP-1-1993, Practice for Office Lighting. (Title 24, Part 2, Section 512, Table 5-C.)

(b) When adequate natural illumination or permanent artificial illumination cannot be made available to secure the safety of employees, suitable portable lights shall be provided.

(c) Skylights, side windows, lamps, and other light accessories which provide necessary illumination shall be kept sufficiently clean, adjusted, and repaired so as not to impair the illumination required for the safety of employees.

1. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 11-28-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No. 48).
2. Amendment filed 7-16-76; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 76, No. 29).
3. Editorial correction filed 10-7-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. 41).
4. Amendment of subsection (a) and footnotes to Table filed 2-11-99; operative 3-13-99 (Register 99, No. 7).

Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code; and Section 18943(c), Health and Safety Code.

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