Temporary Lighting Safety
Construction · Ver en español
Talking points
- Temporary string lights must be guarded with cages or equivalent protection to prevent accidental breakage. Bare bulbs in construction areas are a fire and shock hazard if broken.
- Temporary lights that plug into site receptacles are on GFCI-protected circuits — OSHA requires GFCIs on those outlets — and portable lights in wet or conductive spaces must run at 12 volts or behind a GFCI. Water, dust, and damage to wiring are common on construction sites and increase shock risk.
- Suspend temporary lights on insulators — do not hang them from nails, pipes, or electrical conduit. Metal supports can energize if a wire is damaged.
- Use lamps rated for wet or damp locations in areas exposed to weather or moisture. Indoor-rated fixtures deteriorate rapidly in construction environments.
- Maintain minimum illumination levels: 5 foot-candles for general construction areas, 10 foot-candles for shops, and 3 foot-candles for walkways and stairs.
Ask the crew
Are all of our temporary lights guarded, GFCI-protected, and properly suspended?
Standards this talk is built on
A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.
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Sign-in sheet
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