General Working Conditions ť Illumination

Adequate illumination is required in walkways, work areas, and access to provide a safe work environment. [29 CFR 1915.82(a)] Permanent, temporary, and emergency lighting must be provided as required. The components of the lighting must be safe for the location in which it is installed.

Illumination

Figure 1: Temporary lighting used during night ship repair operations.

Figure 2: Temporary light bulbs protected with bulb globes and suspended out of the way.

Figure 3: Temporary lighting with heavy duty cord properly suspended by hanger on bulb fixture.

Figure 4: Marine Chemist entering dark space with portable light.

Potential Hazards:

Inadequate or poor-quality lighting systems can create:

Slips, trips, and falls
Electric shocks and burns
Inability to exit the space

Requirements and Example Solutions:

Temporary lights must have guards or be recessed to prevent accidental contact with the bulb. [29 CFR 1915.82(b)(1)]
Temporary lights must: [29 CFR 1915.82(b)(2)]
- Be equipped with heavy duty electric cords.
- Not be suspended by their electric cords.
- Have splices equal to the insulation of the cable.

Cords must be protected from damage. [29 CFR 1915.82(b)(3)]
Exposed non-current-carrying metal parts of temporary lights must be grounded. [29 CFR 1915.82(c)]
Portable emergency lighting (e.g., flashlight, light sticks) must be provided. [29 CFR 1915.82(c)(1)]
Workers must not enter dark spaces without suitable portable light. [29 CFR 1915.82(c)(1)]

Additional Resources:

A11.1-1973, Practice for Industrial Lighting. ANSI Standard.

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