Chapter 11 Illumination Quality

General

Fixed lighting is normally required, particularly on pedestrian access routes. Lighting should be designed so that hazards present on roadways can be easily seen.

Being the case that potentially explosive gases could enter the tunnel, explosion proof lighting should be installed. This way in case of an evacuation due to potentially explosive atmospheres could still be undertaken with the main lighting system still operational (BS 6164: 17.1).

Lighting Levels

In order to keep the area’s lighting levels, regular maintenance including cleaning of the luminaires should be carried out. Therefore, the luminaries should be as easy to access as possible (BS 6164: 17.2).

Type of Lighting

Fluorescent and incandescent luminaires produce less glare when compared to floodlights. Glare is a factor that should be minimized.

When using mercury discharge lamps, protective cover lamps should be in place due to potentially high levels of ultraviolet radiation in case of damage.

Warning lights on track sides should be installed to warn drivers of the presence of workers (BS 6164: 17.3).

Emergency Lighting

The emergency lighting system should be fed with uninterruptible power supplies or provided with battery backup.

Emergency lighting should be installed at least at the following locations:

- escape routes;
- emergency exits;
- fire and first aid points;
- tunnel access points;
- electrical substations;
- particular hazard locations such as stairs;
- control and communication points.

The emergency lighting system should be checked and rectified at intervals not exceeding 3 months.

Emergency lighting should be explosion-protected in presence of potentially explosive atmospheres including handlamps (BS 6164: 17.5).

MUST KNOW

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code Relevant to the Topic

According to the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code (current as of January 1, 2019) an employer must follow the following:

According to Part 12, Section 186(3)

An employer must ensure that there is emergency lighting at a work site if workers are in danger if the normal lighting system fails.

According to Part 12, Section 186(4)

Emergency lighting must generate enough light so that workers can leave the work site safely, start the necessary emergency shut-down procedures and restore normal lighting.

Hand Lamps

In case of using hand lamps, special procedures should be put in place to provide proper storage, charging, use, maintenance, and distribution (BS 6164: 17.6).

MUST KNOW

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code Relevant to the Topic

According to the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code (current as of January 1, 2019) an employer must follow the following:

According to Part 19, Section 264(1)

An employer must ensure that powered mobile equipment operated during hours of darkness or when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, workers and vehicles are not clearly discernible at a distance of at least 150 metres, is equipped with lights that illuminate

(a) a direction in which the equipment travels,

(b) the working area around the equipment, and

According to Part 19, Section 264(2)

An employer must ensure that the lights on earthmoving construction machinery installed on or after July 1, 2009 complies with SAE Standard J1029 (2007), Lighting and Marking of Construction, Earthmoving Machinery.

According to Part 12, Section 194(1)

If vehicle traffic at a work site is dangerous to workers on foot, in vehicles or on equipment, an employer must ensure that the traffic is controlled to protect the workers.

According to Part 12, Section 194(2)

An employer must ensure that a worker on foot and exposed to traffic wears a highly visible piece of clothing.

According to Part 12, Section 194(3)

A worker on foot and exposed to traffic must wear a highly visible piece of clothing

According to Part 12, Section 194(4)

If a worker is designated by an employer to control traffic, the employer must ensure that the designated traffic controller wears a highly visible piece of clothing that

(a) clearly identifies the worker as a designated traffic controller, and

(b) is retroreflective if the worker is controlling traffic in the dark or visibility is poor.

According to Part 12, Section 194(5)

A worker designated to control traffic must wear a highly visible piece of clothing that complies with AOHS Part 12: 194(4).

According to Part 12, Section 194(6)

If a worker is designated by an employer to control traffic, the employer must ensure that the designated traffic controller uses a handheld signal light if it is dark or visibility is poor.

According to Part 12, Section 194(7)

If traffic on a public highway is dangerous to workers, an employer must protect the workers from the traffic using

(a) warning signs,

(b) barriers,

(d) flashing lights,

(e) flares,

(f) conspicuously identified pilot vehicles,

(g) automatic or remote-controlled traffic control systems,

(h) designated persons directing traffic, or

(i) methods described in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada (1998), and its updates, published up to and including June 30, 2009 by the Transportation Association of Canada.

According to Part 37, Section 780(6)

If workers are well swabbing during darkness, an employer must ensure that

(a) there is auxiliary lighting providing a minimum illumination level of 54 lux measured 500 millimetres above the travel surface,

(b) rig lighting is turned off if it is not designed for use in an explosive atmosphere,

(d) wind direction indicators are illuminated and appropriately located around the site, and

(e) workers use atmospheric monitoring equipment.

Here are some practices from mining specified in the AOHS and relevant to tunneling:

According to Part 36, Section 594(1)

An employer must ensure that a rubber-tired, self-propelled machine has headlights, reversing lights, taillights, retarder lights and brake lights, where applicable.

According to Part 36, Section 594(2)

An employer must ensure that headlights on a rubber-tired, self-propelled machine are properly aligned.

According to Part 36, Section 612(b)

An employer must ensure that only portable lights designed for use in hazardous locations are taken into a magazine.

According to Part 36, Section 780(1)

Alberta OHS Code Part 36, Section 780 applies to well swabbing operations.

According to Part 36, Section 780(2)

An employer must ensure that during swabbing operations,

(a) workers anchor auxiliary swabbing units securely against movement,

(b) fluids are piped directly to a battery, skid tank, mobile trailer or tank truck, and

According to Part 36, Section 780(3)

An employer must ensure that if fluids are piped to a tank truck during swabbing operations,

(a) the engine of the truck is shut off, and

(b) the driver is not in the cab of the truck while fluids are transferred.

According to Part 36, Section 780(4)

A person must not be in the cab of a truck while fluids are transferred to the truck during swabbing operations.

According to Part 36, Section 780(6)

If workers are well swabbing during darkness, an employer must ensure that

(a) there is auxiliary lighting providing a minimum illumination level of 54 lux measured 500 millimetres above the travel surface,

(b) rig lighting is turned off if it is not designed for use in an explosive atmosphere,

(d) wind direction indicators are illuminated and appropriately located around the site, and

(e) workers use atmospheric monitoring equipment.