Adequate scene lighting should be used to define safe routes and the scene of operations. This will help emergency responders to search for and rescue people in reduced visibility.
The duration of activity should be considered when selecting lighting. If appropriate, the use of battery-powered lighting that is silent and does not create exhaust gases should be considered.
Alternatives, such as generator-powered or vehicle-mounted lighting, may restrict movement and present additional hazards. The potential hazards of exhaust gases are of particular concern in restricted or enclosed areas, such as stairwells or confined spaces.
National Resilience may be able to provide equipment for incidents that require large scale lighting; requirements should be discussed with a National Resilience tactical adviser.
When determining the appropriate level and type of lighting:
- Consider how appropriate personal or scene lighting should be used
- Whether search activity will be static or likely to move
- Ensure adequate lighting resources are requested for the anticipated duration of the incident
- Ensure generators or vehicles are located at an appropriate distance from the scene of operations, to reduce the hazard of exhaust fumes or impact of noise
- Ensure lighting will last an appropriate duration, considering fuel for generators and life of batteries
- Lighting should be suitable for the environment, considering its power, weight and mobility; it should also be to an appropriate level of ATEX compliance for the atmosphere
- Whether individual torches may be necessary for personnel working beyond centralised lighting
Following a consistent approach when using lighting to indicate hazards and safe routes, will help emergency responders to navigate. This can be achieved by using colour-coded lights, for example:
- Red – Danger or hazard area
- Green – Safe entry or route
- Orange – Area of interest
- White – General illumination
- Blue – Specialist interest, such as structural monitoring equipment
A combination of colour-coded lights may be required.
These colour-coded lights vary to those used for water rescue or flood response, the details of which are provided in the (page 38).
For further information refer to Operations – Safe system of work: Reduced visibility.