---
kind: "section"
citation: "29 C.F.R. § 1917.123"
title: "29"
number: "1917.123"
heading: "Illumination. 9"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/29/1917.123"
---

# §1917.123. Illumination. 9

- (a) Working and walking areas shall be illuminated. Unless conditions described in the regulations of the United States Coast Guard (33 CFR [126.15(1)](/cfr/33/126.15.md?p=1) and [(n)](/cfr/33/126.15.md?p=n), and [33](/cfr/33/33.md) CFR 154.570) exist in the case of specific operations, illumination in active work areas (for example, cargo transfer points) shall be of an average minimum light intensity of 5 foot-candles. The illumination in other work areas (for example, farm areas) shall be of an average minimum light intensity of 1 foot-candle except for security purposes when a minimum light intensity of 1/2 foot-candle shall be maintained. Where occasional work tasks require more light than that which is consistently and permanently provided, supplemental lighting shall be used.
- (b) The lighting intensity shall be measured at the task/working surface, in the plane in which the task/working surface is present.
- (c) Lights shall, so far as possible, be placed so that they will not shine in the eyes of employees.

## Notes

### Amendments

[48 FR 30909, July 5, 1983, as amended at 62 FR 40201, July 25, 1997]

### Authority

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 941; 29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657; Secretary of Labor's Order No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754), 8-76 (41 FR 25059), 9-83 (48 FR 35736), 1-90 (55 FR 9033), 6-96 (62 FR 111), 3-2000 (65 FR 50017), 5-2002 (67 FR 65008), 5-2007 (72 FR 31160), 4-2010 (75 FR 55355), 1-2012 (77 FR 3912), 8-2020 (85 FR 58393), or 7-2025 (90 FR 27878), as applicable; and 29 CFR part 1911. Sections 1917.28 and 1917.31 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 553. Section 1917.29 also issued under 49 U.S.C. 1801-1819 and 5 U.S.C. 553.

### Source

Source: 48 FR 30909, July 5, 1983, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[48 FR 30909, July 5, 1983, as amended at 62 FR 40201, July 25, 1997]