32 JUNE 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Ensuring Safety During Low Visibility Adapted from Information by SWS Warning Lights, Inc. Construction is a hazardous occupation, and road construction is ranked as one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. Add poor visibility due to working overnight, dusty jobsites, and difficult weather conditions, and this already dangerous job just became a lot more threatening. Dust and dirt are risks thriving in poorly lit work sites. Both can fill the air and create a thick, fog-like layer, making it difficult for workers to see past their immediate surroundings. This decreased visibility can make jobsites incredibly dangerous, especially for those driving or using heavy machinery. Weather conditions and limited visibility are a lethal combination. On their own, strong winds, heavy rain, fog, and snow greatly affect the chances of an accident. Add the increased darkness experienced during the cooler months and the work site becomes an increasingly hazardous environment. Construction workers who begin their shift in the evening or at night are more likely to sustain serious injuries. Thankfully, you can limit all of these risks with adequate jobsite lighting. Efficient lighting on work sites not only guarantees workers’ safety and health, it enables them to detect and avoid hazards, thereby increasing productivity. Other reasons why lighting is vital for evening and night construction: [ Construction sites are constantly developing, so having proper lighting can allow workers and others to see and avoid the potential risks that exist, limiting the likelihood of injuries. [ Proper lighting increases worker productivity and prevents employees from having to redo certain parts of the job. [ Sufficient lighting can help complete the job within a specified deadline. [ Lighting is vital for the safe movement of vehicles within a work zone. Proper work site lighting decreases vehicular collisions and pedestrian falls. There are several different types of temporary lights your team can make use of during the dark hours: Balloon lights are composed of a spherical or balloon-shaped translucent material, which surrounds one or more high-intensity lamps. The translucent material disperses light and reduces its glare. Some balloon lights are even made with reflective coatings to direct beams downward. These types of lights are highly valued for their ability to evenly distribute light rather than generate a concentrated beam. Compared to other lighting sources, they can emit just the right amount of illumination with a lot less glare. Equipment-mounted lights provide a sufficient source of continuous lighting, allowing employees to focus solely on operating heavy machinery and the task at hand. While most of these machines come with factory-installed lights, some of them are unable to generate the light required for the task at hand. These preinstalled lights are also prone to producing excessive glare and oftentimes unable to be adjusted toward the areas requiring the greatest amount of light. Portable light towers are comprised of multiple lamps, which are attached to a single mast. They are easy to set up, can be used at virtually any jobsite, and come with a built-in generator. Truck-mounted work lights are another way to light up the jobsite. These types of lights are specifically beneficial when no other ambient light is available. They bring light directly to your workspace, whether outdoors on a construction site or indoors working with forklifts or other machinery. Flashing LED warning lights can improve visibility on-site. These are especially beneficial to jobsites near roadways as they alert oncoming vehicles to proceed with caution when approaching the work zone ahead. As soon as people see a flashing light, they know to proceed with caution. When used on a vehicle, the beacon light indicates the vehicle may pose an obstacle to traffic. Having extra lighting provides an additional measure of safety and precaution to keep workers safe all year long. C&G eranhenderson@gmail.com New & Used Tricones PDCs Drag & Claw Bits Drill Collars Bit Tipping Subs & Stabilizers HDD Bits & Reamers DTH Hammer & Bits Custom Fabrication Junk Mills / Fishing Tools Rod Henderson 661-201-6259 Eran Henderson 661-330-0790
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