Lighting

The law requires that there should be adequate lighting of site locations and vehicles at all times to enable all persons to work safely and in safety. For transport safety, all roads, manoeuvring areas and yards should be sufficiently lit.

Adequate lighting should be provided to all areas and especially to those areas used in darkness hours, or where loading/unloading can be carried out in poor visibility or diminished lighting conditions. As a minimum, lighting should be provided for junctions, around plant and buildings, pedestrian routes and areas where loading/unloading is to be carried out. Guidance for road lighting can be found in BS 5489 `Road Lighting'.

Areas around junctions, buildings, plant, pedestrian areas, and places where there is regular movement of vehicles will require special attention.

Glare from the sun can sometimes be a problem for drivers. Measures may be needed to avoid this (for example sun visors).

Measures may also be needed to avoid a strong change in the amount of light between the inside and outside of buildings.

Signs should either be illuminated for night-time visibility or adverse weather conditions, or be suitably reflective. Vehicles on site should use lights/beacons etc in darkness or poor visibility to aid detection by other vehicles.

During the winter months work often carries on well into the hours of darkness. Improving the lighting will make the site generally safer but it is important that lighting is placed high and angled downwards to avoid glare and shadows.

Asymmetric distribution, flat glass floodlights should be used facing downwards onto the road surface. Wall mounted lighting is useful in reducing post clutter.