Adequate illumination is a fundamental safeguard for construction safety, particularly during night shifts and periods of low natural light. As much as 15% of all injuries are associated with inadequate lighting. This case study measures illuminance from a large-scale nuclear power plant construction project, focusing on the interface between active work zones and high-traffic areas such as pedestrian routes, parking lots, and road crossings. Measured illuminance levels were benchmarked against Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety standards and Illuminating Engineering Society best practices adopted for the project. Findings indicated systemic under-lighting at pedestrian-vehicle interfaces; several locations recorded an average of 16.1 lux, failing to meet the minimum safety requirement of 108 lux. While work zones consistently met safety standards—averaging a robust 2,160 lux—one localized deficiency was detected and addressed through the project’s corrective action process. Findings highlight the disproportionate risk associated with underlit transitional areas and demonstrate how applied industrial hygiene assessment can support targeted engineering controls, administrative oversight, and strengthened safety culture on safety-critical construction projects.
Shepherd et al. (Tue,) studied this question.