The New Generation of Lighting for Confined Spaces Safety

From ultra-bright headlamps and feature-rich work lights to flexible scene lighting solutions, today’s portable lighting tools are more efficient than ever before.

• By Aaron Freund
• Oct 15, 2024

Among the most essential tools for utility, construction and other professionals who work in confined spaces are portable lighting tools that can light the way in environments with poor natural lighting. While many industrial technicians may think that one flashlight model is pretty much the same as another, the truth is that flashlight technology has evolved extensively in recent years. Continuing advances in lighting technology are now offering workers a wide range of lighting tools and features that enable them to perform their work more efficiently in darkened, restricted conditions. And these same workers have never been safer, thanks to a growing number of lighting products that are specially designed for use in hazardous conditions that are often present in confined places such as manholes, tunnels, pits, utility job sites, equipment housings and pipelines.

Headlamps: Indispensable Tools for Tight, Dark Areas

From handheld flashlights and work lights that deliver flood-like brightness to scene lights that can adapt to any environment, workers have a wide variety of portable lighting tools from which to choose when operating in confined spaces. But perhaps the most widely used lights for working in tight spaces are headlamps, permitting hands-free operation while maximizing safety. Gone are the headlamps of yesteryear, which were often bulky and uncomfortable to wear for long periods. Designed to fit comfortably on the head or around a hard hat, today’s headlamps are lightweight, easy to use and wear, and feature-rich. With multiple brightness settings, modern headlamps can be adjusted to suit the task at hand, providing optimal light output and run time levels.

Many headlamps now also combine multiple features to suit user needs and preferences, including choices of:

• Beam types, including bright, focused spot beams for down-range lighting or soft flood lighting when working at arm’s length.

• USB rechargeable or multi-fuel power sources, letting users insert disposable batteries to ensure they always have light.

• Features such as a 90-degree tilting head to reduce neck fatigue and large buttons for easy actuation in the dark.

Work Lights that Can Fit in Even the Tightest Spaces

The newest class of compact and ultra-compact work lights fit easily in small, restricted spaces, hands-free or hanging, and can rotate horizontally or vertically on their bodies, letting technicians aim light precisely where it’s needed even when in environments that limit movement. Many stand on their own or clamp virtually anywhere, letting workers use them for overhead lighting or for directing spot lighting in tight spaces. Such models may feature a magnetic base and stowable hook for hands-free applications.

And because it’s not unusual for flashlights, lanterns and other lighting tools to be knocked around or dropped several feet to the ground from atop a piece of equipment, manufacturers now make newer lights with non-conductive polymer housings or machined aluminum casings that can withstand this type of daily abuse, while also protecting the user from the danger of electric shock. Some lights also offer superior resistance to potentially dangerous chemicals and solvents that might be used in confined settings.

Portable Scene Lighting that Adapts to Confined Spaces

When it comes to working in restricted spaces, portable scene lighting tools offer utility and other industrial technicians several important advantages, shining light into the most out-of-the-way places. Modern portable scene lights feature narrow footprints, making them easy to store and transport almost anywhere. They can be positioned near manhole or pit areas, or other confined spaces to increase worker visibility when entering and working in such areas. They are easily deployed and are battery-operated without the need for cords. They feature a rotating head that can be extended on a telescoping pole and is supported by stabilizing legs that lock into place to provide balance on uneven surfaces. New technology now exists to ensure their battery life lasts for several shifts, even days, which can be critical in time-sensitive situations.

Safety Considerations

The most extreme hazardous working conditions are often in dark places, including confined ones. Choosing the correct light for your application requires a thorough understanding of the working environment, and a realistic expectation of how a properly selected light will operate in those conditions.

Because flashlights can serve as a source of ignition, it is extremely dangerous to use any light that has not been specifically designed and approved for use in areas where fire or explosion hazards may exist due to the presence of flammable gases, liquids, vapors, dusts, or ignitable fibers or flyings. These are considered hazardous environments where you should expect explosive atmospheres to be present, and which require using only flashlight equipment with a Division 1 safety rating. 

Look for flashlights that are tested and certified as safety-rated by nationally recognized, independent testing laboratories to achieve a Division 1 rating, which is your assurance that the flashlight will be safe, reliable and tough enough for the job. Check flashlight manufacturers’ websites for more information. 

The future should see portable lighting tools becoming even brighter, running longer and operating more efficiently, while still maintaining durability and functionality. Battery technology will continue to advance, resulting in lighter-weight products that use less energy while providing brighter and more consistent illumination. These and other advances will drive more effective, efficient and safer tools for professionals operating in confined spaces.

This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.