The Importance Of Site Lighting For Safety And Security
Adequate site lighting is a vital part of any construction site management and adherence towards site health and safety regulations. For any construction site that is operational during the darker hours of the day, and overnight, there must be clear protocols in place and the use of the best type of site lighting that matches the needs and challenges of each specific site.
What role does site lighting play in construction?
Construction sites are challenging and dangerous places, with many different moving parts and complexities at every turn. The health and safety provisions cover many different aspects, and lighting the site is one of the most important. Insufficient lighting on site can lead to hazards and accidents, causing the safety of workers to be compromised.
The role of lighting includes:
Visibility – good site lighting helps to ensure good visibility for every person on site. This ensures that workers are fully aware of potential hazards and can navigate all areas of the site safely and effectively, moving tools, materials, and equipment whilst missing obstacles.
Prevention of accidents – poor lighting makes it harder for workers to see uneven surfaces and obstacles, debris and objects that may cause them to trip, slip, or fall. Better lighting illuminates these areas and minimises the risk of accidents as a result.
Improved productivity – good site lighting enhances levels of productivity for all workers on site, as it promotes higher levels of concentration, even when natural light is lower. Tasks can be completed at an efficient standard at all times.
Improved emergency reactions – in an emergency situation where there has been an accident on site, emergency exit routes and signage are a crucial aspect of the safety management protocols. Site lighting helps to increase fast and efficient removal of an injured person, or clear evacuation routes for all workers on site.
Implementing safe site lighting
In order to implement site lighting that fits the bill for your site and ensures high levels of safety, you must:
- Assess the lighting requirements for your specific site after conducting a thorough assessment for all areas, task complexity, potential hazards, and optimal placement of lights.
- Utilise the highest standard of site lighting available to you, including solar powered mobile site lighting to boost your renewable, green credentials.
- Provide lighting that is specific for certain tasks to improve efficiency and safety.
- Maintain and inspect regularly to improve and tweak approach where necessary to keep workers safe.
There are many different types of challenges to working at night for construction workers, and one of the biggest is the ability to work and travel around site at night safely and effectively. The utilisation of the best site lighting, whether mobile tower lighting, solar site lights, or any other type of site lighting, will help you to keep contractors and suppliers safe on site no matter what time of day or night they are present. It encourages safe working practice, keeps all areas well-lit to improve standards and drive safety levels ever higher.
