ELE/Specific Hazards/TBT-ELE-011

Temporary Lighting Installations

Electrical Safety › Specific Hazards › Temporary Lighting Installations

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Temporary lighting provides illumination for construction work areas, access routes, and welfare facilities.
All temporary lighting on construction sites should operate at 110V from a centre-tapped earth transformer.
Temporary festoon lighting strings are commonly used in buildings, tunnels, and enclosed work areas.
Damaged cable, broken lamp holders, and missing guards create electric shock and fire hazards.
Temporary lighting circuits must be protected by RCDs and connected by a competent electrician.
Festoon cables routed across floors and through openings create trip hazards and damage risks.
Emergency lighting must be provided on escape routes and must function independently of the main supply.
External temporary lighting must be weatherproof rated and secured against wind displacement.
PAT testing of temporary lighting equipment is required at the frequency specified for the site environment.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require all temporary electrical installations to be safe.

Electric shock	Damaged temporary lighting with exposed wiring and broken fittings causes electric shock on construction sites.
Fire risk	Overloaded lighting circuits and damaged cable insulation overheat and start fires in enclosed areas.
Trip and fall	Poorly routed festoon cables across walkways and through openings trip workers, causing falls and injuries.

Don't

Use 110V lighting from a centre-tapped earth transformer for all site areas.
Have a competent electrician install and connect all temporary lighting circuits.
Protect lighting cables from damage using cable covers and appropriate routing.
Inspect temporary lighting daily for damaged cables, broken fittings, and missing guards.
Provide emergency lighting on escape routes independent of the main supply.
Use weatherproof-rated fittings for all external temporary lighting installations.
PAT test temporary lighting equipment at the frequency required for the site.
Route festoon cables at height where possible to avoid floor-level trip hazards.
Replace blown lamps and damaged fittings promptly to maintain adequate illumination.
Ensure RCD protection is in place on all temporary lighting distribution circuits.

DON'T use 230V temporary lighting on construction sites without specific risk assessment.
DON'T allow non-competent persons to install or modify temporary lighting circuits.
DON'T leave damaged cables, broken lamp holders, or missing guards unrepaired.
DON'T overload lighting circuits by daisy-chaining multiple festoon strings together.
DON'T route cables across walkways without protective covers to prevent trips.
DON'T use indoor-rated fittings for external temporary lighting installations.
DON'T leave temporary lighting running unattended in areas with combustible materials.
DON'T ignore flickering lights or warm cable connections; they indicate faults.
DON'T hang items from lighting cables or use them to support other equipment.
DON'T bypass RCD protection on temporary lighting distribution boards.

See also: Electrical Safety Awareness | Artificial Lighting Standards

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