quote=Graham Bullough]Like other responders I'm not aware of any specific requirement for all fluorescent lights to have diffusers, though it's possible that food hygiene laws might require them in food preparation areas.
Not aware of any food hygiene laws that refer to this, but there is a food hygiene accreditation that does.
The AIB (American Institute of Bakers) food hygiene standard has a section which relates to glass and brittle plastics. In a previous role, this was one of the standards I was responsible for maintaining, but its been over 4 years since I last dealt with it, so correct me if I don't get it quite right..
Basically :-
- glass or brittle plastic must not be positioned above machines, production lines or conveyors carrying product
- there must be a register of every piece of glass and brittle plastic in production and storage areas
- glass and brittle plastic on the register must be periodically inspection
- there must be a breakage policy and procedure with a dedicated vacuum cleaner
- light fittings above machines, production lines and conveyors must be unbreakable
We fitting fluorescent tubes which were unbreakable. They had a flexible plastic outer which contained any breakage inside. A remember an engineer showing off when he tied a knot in one after he had changed it.