26 Aug Portable Light Strings

Portable Light Strings

Portable light strings provide temporary illumination in construction, maintenance, industrial, and other work areas. Because they are frequently used in wet locations, confined spaces, and areas where cords and fixtures can be damaged, improperly maintained temporary lighting can expose employees to electrical shock, burns, fire, and explosion hazards.

Inspect portable lighting before use and immediately remove damaged equipment from service.

Pre-Use Inspection

Before installing, energizing, or using a portable light string:

• Inspect cords for cuts, cracks, fraying, exposed conductors, or damaged insulation.
• Inspect plugs and connectors for damage.
• Make sure required grounding prongs are present and intact.
• Check lamp holders, fixtures, guards, and globes for cracks or other damage.
• Make sure connections are secure.
• Verify that bulbs or lamps are properly installed and undamaged.
• Remove damaged equipment from service and report it to your supervisor.

Never make temporary or makeshift repairs to damaged electrical cords or fixtures.

Grounding and GFCI Protection

Temporary lighting must meet applicable electrical requirements.

• Never remove or defeat a grounding prong.
• Use properly grounded equipment where grounding is required.
• Use ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection as required, particularly where construction activities or wet conditions create increased electrical hazards.
• Keep electrical connections away from standing water.
• Do not handle energized plugs, connections, or fixtures with wet hands.
• Protect cords from sharp edges, crushing, vehicle traffic, and other physical damage.

Do not assume a circuit is safe simply because the lights are operating.

Protect Lamps From Damage

Portable lamps used for general illumination must be protected from accidental contact and breakage where required.

• Keep required guards in place.
• Do not use fixtures with missing or damaged protective components.
• Never operate a fixture with exposed energized parts.
• Disconnect the light string from its power source before replacing a broken or damaged lamp.
• Allow hot lamps to cool before handling them.
• Wear appropriate gloves when removing broken glass.

Do not attempt to remove a broken lamp from an energized fixture.

Prevent Burns and Fires

Lamps and fixtures can generate enough heat to burn employees or ignite combustible materials.

• Keep portable lights away from combustible materials.
• Do not allow lamps to contact wood, plastic sheeting, paper, insulation, clothing, or other combustible materials.
• Do not hang lights by electrical cords unless the equipment is specifically designed for that purpose.
• Keep fixtures positioned where employees will not accidentally contact hot surfaces.
• Do not cover lights or fixtures with materials that could trap heat.

Wet and Damp Locations

Portable lighting used in wet or damp environments must be suitable for those conditions.

• Use equipment approved for the environment.
• Provide required GFCI protection.
• Keep plugs and connections dry and protected.
• Do not allow electrical connections to lie in water.
• Inspect equipment frequently when conditions could damage cords or fixtures.

If lighting equipment becomes wet, damaged, or otherwise unsafe, disconnect it from the power source when safe to do so and remove it from service.

Confined Spaces

Confined spaces can present additional electrical and atmospheric hazards. Before introducing portable lighting into a confined space:

• Follow the company’s confined-space procedures.
• Evaluate the atmosphere when required.
• Determine whether flammable gases or vapors could be present.
• Use lighting equipment suitable and approved for the conditions and hazardous-location classification.
• Protect cords and fixtures from physical damage.
• Do not rely on ordinary portable lighting where specially approved equipment is required.

Portable lighting does not make a hazardous atmosphere safe.

Flammable or Explosive Atmospheres

Ordinary portable light strings can become an ignition source.

Never use conventional electrical lighting in an atmosphere containing, or potentially containing, flammable gases, vapors, or combustible dust unless the equipment is approved for the specific hazardous location.

Where specially approved lighting is required:

• Inspect the entire assembly before use.
• Verify that globes, guards, seals, gaskets, plugs, and fittings are present and properly installed.
• Keep fittings clean and secure.
• Never substitute ordinary equipment for equipment required by the hazardous-location classification.

If there is uncertainty about the atmosphere or suitability of the lighting equipment, stop work and obtain direction from the supervisor or other qualified person before proceeding.

Installation and Housekeeping

Install light strings so they do not introduce additional hazards.

• Route cords away from walkways whenever possible.
• Protect cords where they could be damaged.
• Do not create trip hazards.
• Keep lights clear of moving machinery and equipment.
• Do not attach cords or fixtures using methods that could damage the insulation.
• Maintain adequate illumination throughout the work area.
• Do not overload electrical circuits.

Remember

Portable light strings are electrical equipment and must be treated accordingly. Inspect them before use, maintain required grounding and GFCI protection, protect lamps from damage, keep lights away from combustibles, and use only properly approved equipment in hazardous locations.