Site conditions
Poor lighting
Trips, missed hazards, and equipment strikes in areas without enough light. Table D-3 in 1926.56 lists minimum light levels, including 5 foot-candles for general construction area lighting.
Where it shows up
- Stairwells and corridors before permanent lighting
- Night work and early winter mornings
- Basements, shafts, and tunnels
Controls, most effective first
Work down the list. Rely on PPE only for the risk the controls above it cannot remove.
| Level | Control |
|---|---|
| Engineering | Temporary lighting strings in stairs, corridors, and work areas |
| Light towers for exterior night work | |
| Administrative | Check lighting during the morning walk and fix outages the same day |
| Assign someone to maintain temporary lights | |
| PPE | Headlamps as a backup, not the primary light |
PPE to list on the JHA
High-visibility vest1926.201
OSHA standards
| Citation | Title |
|---|---|
| 29 CFR 1926.56 | Illumination |
Federal OSHA construction standards. State plans can be stricter, and owners or contracts can add requirements. This page is general information. Check the full standard for your work.