Lighting Assessments
for Public Liability Claims
Independent measurement and assessment of lighting where poor lighting is alleged to have contributed to a fall or injury. Measurements are taken with a high-accuracy Class 1 illuminance meter, with calibration traceable to a NATA-accredited laboratory. Plaintiff and defendant instructions accepted nationally.
Measure First, Then Form the Opinion
"It was too dark to see the step." It is a common allegation in public liability matters involving stairs, pathways, car parks, entrances and other pedestrian areas. But "poor lighting" is a description. Illuminance, the amount of light reaching a surface, can be measured.
Karim Ali measures the lighting at the incident location using a high-accuracy Class 1 illuminance meter, with calibration traceable to a NATA-accredited laboratory. Having the instrument is only part of the process. Where and when measurements are taken, the surrounding conditions, the method used and how the results are interpreted against the relevant criteria all matter.
The assessment is usually carried out as part of a site inspection and reported in an expert witness report.
Measurements may support an allegation that lighting was inadequate. They may also show that the measured conditions do not support it. That is the purpose of independent expert evidence.
Typical Locations
- Stairs, steps and changes in level
- Footpaths, walkways and ramps
- Indoor and outdoor car parks
- Building entrances, foyers and lobbies
- Shopping centre and strata common areas
- Hotels, clubs and licensed venues
- Workplace walkways, loading docks and yards
Assessment Method
Each assessment is planned around the incident: the location, the time of day, the person's path of travel and what is known about the lighting at the time.
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Incident Review
The incident details, photographs, CCTV, witness accounts, maintenance records and any reports of faulty lights are reviewed to understand the conditions at the time.
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Measurement Plan
Measurement points are planned along the path of travel and at the incident location, and the assessment is timed to match the incident conditions as closely as practical.
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On-Site Measurement
Illuminance is measured with a Class 1 meter at the planned points and in the surrounding areas, so that light levels, uniformity and dark areas can be assessed.
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Conditions Recorded
Which lights were operating, obstructions, weather, other light sources and any changes since the incident are recorded and photographed.
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Interpretation
The results are assessed against the lighting requirements and recognised guidance for that type of location, and in light of the person's direction of travel and field of view.
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Reporting
The measurements, method, conditions and limitations are set out in the report, together with the opinion the measurements support.
Questions the Assessment Answers
When lighting is alleged to have contributed to an incident, these are the questions Karim considers.
How much light was actually reaching the surface where the incident occurred.
Whether the lighting was reasonably even, or whether there were dark patches, shadows or sharp changes between bright and dim areas.
Whether the relevant lights were working at the time, and what maintenance records, fault reports, timers and sensors show.
Which way the person was walking, what they could see ahead, and whether glare or moving from a bright area into a dark one affected visibility.
Which lighting requirements or recognised guidance applied, such as the AS/NZS 1680 series for interior and workplace lighting or AS/NZS 1158.3.1 for outdoor pedestrian areas.
Whether the conditions at the time of the incident can still be reliably assessed or reconstructed, and what limits that places on the opinion.
Lighting Assessments Across Australia
Karim Ali is based in Sydney and carries out lighting assessments nationally. Travel costs are confirmed with the instructing party in advance.
Many lighting allegations relate to incidents after dark, so assessments are often scheduled in the evening to match the conditions at the time.
Plaintiff and Defendant Instructions
Lighting assessments are available to plaintiff and defendant solicitors and insurers in public liability and workers' compensation matters. Measurements are reported as found, whichever party they assist.
See also Slips, Trips and Falls Expert Witness. Where an organisation needs a full investigation of an incident, see Incident Investigation.
- Falls on stairs, steps and ramps
- Trips on pathways and in car parks
- Incidents at entrances and in common areas
- Workplace incidents where visibility is in issue
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What if the lights have been changed since the incident?
Changes since the incident are identified and taken into account. Maintenance records, invoices, photographs and witness accounts are used to establish what was in place at the time. Where the conditions cannot be reliably reconstructed, the report says so and explains the effect on the opinion.
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Can the measurements be taken during the day?
Where the allegation concerns artificial lighting at night, measurements generally need to be taken when that lighting is the main light source, which usually means in the evening. Daytime incidents can be assessed during the day.
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Can lighting be assessed from photographs alone?
Not reliably. Cameras adjust exposure automatically, so photographs and video can make a scene look brighter or darker than it appeared to the eye. They are still useful to show which lights were on and where shadows fell.
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What equipment is used?
A high-accuracy Class 1 illuminance meter, with calibration traceable to a NATA-accredited laboratory. Calibration details are included in the report.
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Will the results support my client's case?
They may or may not. Measurements can support an allegation that lighting was inadequate, or show that the measured conditions do not support it. Either way, the results are reported as found.
Discuss a Lighting Assessment
Contact Karim Ali to discuss whether a site inspection and lighting assessment would assist in your matter.