Record the specific light level figure and unit named in the applicable page for your work area before the shift begins.
Key takeaways for what light level to record for the work area before the shift
- This requirement applies to the listed area types when work is active.
- When your crew is at the tunnel heading performing those tasks, record the 10 foot-candle figure.
- Do not convert this foot-candle value into lux or treat it as a general site-wide minimum; it is a specific exception for the heading area during specific activities.
- You must write down the exact figure from that table for the specific area type you are supervising.
- Keep the British lux figures in their own row in your records, separate from the federal foot-candle figures.
Which light level to record before the shift, in one paragraph
Before your crew starts work in a dim area, identify the specific light level figure and unit named in the page that applies to that space. The federal construction page requires that construction areas, ramps, runways, corridors, offices, shops, and storage areas be lighted to not less than the minimum illumination intensities listed in Table D-3 while any work is in progress, according to Legal Information Institute. If your work area is a tunnel heading, the federal text names a 10 foot-candle exception, which is a distinct figure from the general table minimums. For British pages, the figures are in lux, not foot-candles, and you must record the lux value for the specific room or corridor type. Do not convert foot-candles to lux or lux to foot-candles; record the unit exactly as it appears on the page that governs that area. Your log entry should include the area name, the light level figure, and the unit specified by the source page. See Construction Daily Log Checklist for Supervisors. This ensures you are recording the value the applicable page names, not a converted or estimated number. Check the specific section of the federal page for your area type, such as shops or corridors, and note the minimum intensity listed. If you are working in a control room or corridor under British guidance, note the specific lux figure for that space. The goal is to have a clear, written record of the light level you verified before the shift, matching the unit and figure from the applicable page.
What the federal construction page requires while work is in progress
The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute specifies that construction areas, ramps, runways, corridors, offices, shops, and storage areas must be lighted to not less than the minimum illumination intensities listed in Table D-3 while any work is in progress, according to Legal Information Institute. This requirement applies specifically to the named locations during active work periods. The rule does not provide a single universal number for every site but directs the supervisor to consult Table D-3 for the specific minimums applicable to each area type.
When your crew operates in spaces not explicitly covered by the listed categories, the same source instructs you to refer to the American National Standard A11.1-1965, R1970, Practice for Industrial Lighting, for recommended values of illumination, according to Legal Information Institute. This standard serves as the reference point for operations outside the primary list. You should verify whether your specific task area falls under the initial list or requires this secondary reference before recording your pre-shift light level.
These areas often have different lighting needs than open construction zones, so you must check the specific minimum for each type.
To record the correct figure, identify which category your work area fits into. If you are working in a shop or corridor, use the Table D-3 value for that specific type. If you are in an area not listed, check the American National Standard A11.1-1965, R1970. Write the area name and the corresponding light figure from the applicable source into your log. This ensures your record matches the specific federal requirement for that location type.
The 10 foot-candle exception for the tunnel and shaft heading
The federal construction page lists specific lighting requirements for different work areas, and some of these figures appear as exceptions within longer sentences rather than as standalone table entries. You must identify the exact area type in your work zone to find the corresponding figure. For underground work, the rule covers tunnels, shafts, and general underground work areas. Within that category, there is a specific exception for the active face of the work. According to Legal Information Institute, the minimum of 10 foot-candles is required at the tunnel and shaft heading during drilling, mucking, and scaling. This 10 foot-candle figure applies specifically to the heading while those three activities are taking place. It is not a general requirement for the entire tunnel or shaft, nor does it apply to the general underground work areas outside the heading.
When you record the light level for a crew working in a tunnel, you must distinguish between the heading and the rest of the underground area. The text you are using names the heading as the location for the 10 foot-candle minimum. If your crew is drilling, mucking, or scaling at the face, you record 10 foot-candles. If they are working elsewhere in the tunnel or shaft, you look for the figure that applies to general underground work areas. The source does not provide a single number for the general area in this specific exception sentence, so you must check the full table for the standard minimum for tunnels, shafts, and general underground work areas. The exception is narrow: it covers the heading during specific tasks. See Confined space entry records: 6 permit checks.
A filled reference table of each publisher's lighting rule
The table below lists the specific lighting rules and figures from the supplied sources. Each row names the publisher and the rule or figure given on that page. Do not convert between these units.
| Publisher | Source Page | Specific Rule or Figure | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Information Institute | 29 CFR § 1926.56 - Illumination | Minimum of 10 foot-candles is required at tunnel and shaft heading during drilling, mucking, and scaling | Foot-candles |
| CCOHS | CCOHS: Lighting Ergonomics - General | People receive about 85 percent of their information through their sense of sight | Percent |
| Health and Safety Executive | Lighting, thermal comfort, working space, noise and vibration | A process control room should be lit at an illuminance of 300 lux, a corridor or walkway may only require 50 lux, whilst studying an engineering drawing may require 750 lux | Lux |
The federal rule from the Legal Information Institute applies to construction areas, ramps, runways, corridors, offices, shops, and storage areas, requiring lighting to not less than the minimum illumination intensities listed in Table D-3 while any work is in progress, according to Legal Information Institute. For tunnels, shafts, and general underground work areas, the same source specifies an exception where a minimum of 10 foot-candles is required at tunnel and shaft heading during drilling, mucking, and scaling, according to Legal Information Institute.
The CCOHS page notes that people receive about 85 percent of their information through their sense of sight, according to CCOHS. The Health and Safety Executive provides specific lux values for different tasks: a process control room should be lit at an illuminance of 300 lux, a corridor or walkway may only require 50 lux, whilst studying an engineering drawing may require 750 lux, according to Health and Safety Executive.
When recording your jobsite lighting, identify which publisher’s rule applies to your specific work area. If you are in California, refer to the Title 8 regulations for your specific area type. If your work involves tasks like studying drawings or working in a control room, and you are following British guidance, record the lux figure for that specific task. Do not mix units; record the number and the unit exactly as they appear in the applicable source.
What the Canadian and British pages say about sight and lux
The CCOHS page titled "Lighting Ergonomics - General" states that people receive about 85 percent of their information through their sense of sight, according to CCOHS. This statistic frames the importance of adequate illumination for workers who rely on visual cues to perform tasks safely. The same source describes how different light types direct light. Direct lights project 90 to 100 percent of their light downward toward the work area, according to CCOHS. Conversely, indirect lights distribute 90 to 100 percent of the light upward, according to CCOHS. When selecting lighting for a dim work area, note that these patterns determine how much light actually reaches the task surface compared with the ceiling or walls.
The Health and Safety Executive page titled "Lighting, thermal comfort, working space, noise and vibration - HSE" provides specific lux figures for different environments. A process control room should be lit at an illuminance of 300 lux, a corridor or walkway may only require 50 lux, whilst studying an engineering drawing may require 750 lux (see HSG38 Lighting at Work), according to Health and Safety Executive. Do not convert these lux values into foot-candles or treat them as construction minimums. They serve as examples of illuminance levels for specific indoor tasks and spaces.
The same HSE page notes that sudden contrasts in light levels, such as coming out of a well-lit area into a dark area or the reverse, can be a problem because it takes the eye several seconds to adapt to new lighting conditions, according to Health and Safety Executive. This adaptation time is a relevant consideration when crews move between brightly lit shop areas and dimmer field locations. When recording the light level for a specific area, use the unit and figure named in the applicable page for that jurisdiction. For British contexts, record the lux figure from the HSE examples. Keep these units separate in your log to maintain accuracy and avoid mixing measurement systems.
Illustrative example of recording the heading and the control room
A supervisor checks a tunnel heading before drilling starts. The applicable page names 10 foot-candles for the heading during drilling, mucking, and scaling. The log line reads tunnel heading, 10 foot-candles. The figure is not converted.
The same shift includes a process control room covered by a British page. That page names 300 lux for the control room and notes a corridor or walkway may only require 50 lux. The supervisor writes 300 lux on one row and 50 lux on another row. Foot-candles and lux stay on separate rows.
Today's area and the figure you recorded
Write the specific area name and the light figure you recorded before the shift starts in the empty rows. Record the exact unit the applicable page uses, as foot-candles and lux are distinct measurements that should not be converted or mixed in a single entry. If the area is a tunnel heading, note the specific exception figure printed in the sentence for that location. Keep the unit attached to the number so the record matches the source page exactly.
| Area | Figure and unit | Page you used |
|---|---|---|
| Example | tunnel heading figure as the page prints it | the page for that area |
Do this before the shift today
Copy the figure and the unit from the applicable page into the empty rows before work starts.
FAQ about jobsite lighting levels
What does the federal page require while work is in progress?
Construction areas, ramps, runways, corridors, offices, shops, and storage areas must be lighted to not less than the minimum illumination intensities listed in Table D-3 while any work is in progress, according to Legal Information Institute.
What foot-candle figure does the tunnel-heading exception name?
The exception requires a minimum of 10 foot-candles at tunnel and shaft heading during drilling, mucking, and scaling, according to Legal Information Institute.
What does California say about nighttime highway lighting?
Nighttime highway construction work lighting shall be provided, according to California Department of Industrial Relations. See High-visibility gear near traffic: 4 pages.
What percent of information does the Canadian page tie to sight?
People receive about 85 percent of their information through their sense of sight, according to CCOHS.
What three lux figures does the British sentence name?
A process control room should be lit at an illuminance of 300 lux, a corridor or walkway may only require 50 lux, whilst studying an engineering drawing may require 750 lux, according to Health and Safety Executive. These figures apply to the specific locations and tasks named in the sentence.