An impact resistant assembly for a handheld fluorescent task lamp, comprising a housing configured as a hollow tubular handle; a generally tubular lens body molded of a substantially clear plastic material, seated in a recess within a first end of the housing and enclosing at least one compact fluorescent bulb; an elongated spine member extending from a rearward side of the first end of the housing approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof and configured for slidingly supporting the lens body on a track formed along a rearward portion of the lens body; and a resilient bulkhead disposed within a distal portion of the lens body for cushioning a distal end of the at least one compact fluorescent bulb.