Night Work & Jobsite Lighting
Road work, shutdowns and tight schedules push work into the night. Poor lighting hides hazards, makes workers hard for drivers to see, and night shifts bring fatigue.
- Construction
- Road Work
Photo: nighttime road crew with balloon lights and Class 3 hi-vis
Minimum lighting (construction)
| Area | Minimum foot-candles |
|---|---|
| General construction area lighting | 5 |
| Concrete placement, excavation and waste areas, accessways, active storage, loading platforms, refueling and field maintenance areas | 3 |
| Indoors: warehouses, corridors, hallways and exitways | 5 |
| Tunnels, shafts and general underground work areas | 5 (10 at the heading during drilling and mucking) |
| General construction plant and shops | 10 |
| First aid stations, infirmaries and offices | 30 |
These are minimums. Detailed tasks need much more light.
Working safely at night
- Aim lights at the work, not into drivers’ or operators’ eyes. Glare can blind them.
- Wear Class 3 high-visibility clothing. See Hi-Vis.
- Light walkways, stairs, ladders and the area around equipment.
- Use clear safety glasses at night, not tinted.
- Watch for fatigue in yourself and others; rotate tasks and take breaks. See Fatigue.
- Plan safe travel home after night shifts.
Standards & references
- 29 CFR 1926.56: Illumination
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