Working in the Dark

Working in the Dark - Grading and Excavation Contractor
Regarding the key to successful work in darkness, Eldridge points out that good lighting is essential because operating and moving around heavy equipment demands good visibility and concentration for everybody at the site. He adds that his workers seldom attempt anything as precise as fine-grading at night because however good some lighting systems are, they are not quite the same as daylight for such applications. Most contractors seem to agree with that.

Good lighting for nighttime construction work is essential, and there are standards set for the amount necessary - set nationally by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration. You can find those standards, explained and recorded, at the Web site www.osha.gov. It is mandatory that all local standards for lighting and noise be met during any night work. The risks you take by trying to avoid any regulations are not only financial, though they should be deterrent enough; in some communities there is an inspector on-site to make sure you have enough light. The determining factor appears to be the amount of adequate light available for a certain work area, and contractors who have experience in night work tend to learn how much is required and practical and where to find the right lights. If your excavation involves moving along a road, street, or airstrip, for example, you might discover that two trailer-mounted units, hauled along as the work progresses, are enough. Some projects, because of their area and the different jobs going on (e.g., surveying before you excavate), might require more than 20 lighting systems.