Construction site installations lighting

Temporary electrical supplies provided on construction sites can save many man hours of labour by providing the energy required for fixed and portable tools and lighting which speeds up the completion of a project. However, construction sites are dangerous places and the temporary electrical supply which is installed... 

Subsection 611-03 recognises that many installations do not have isolating switches and are fed from the supply company s combined cut-out, neutral link and sealing box on the end of the service cable, so in such cases electrical maintenance is restricted to qualified persons. The restriction does not apply to relamping if an isolating switch is available. Supplies are sometimes taken from street furniture to feed temporary installations such as market stalls, Christmas decorative street lighting and small roadworks. Subsection 611-06 requires no impairment of the safety of the permanent installation so it must not be overloaded and the connection must be safe. The temporary installation should comply generally with section 604 for construction sites. 

From an historical perspective, the problem with electrical safety on construction sites largely began after World War II when portable electric tools, electrically powered plant and electric lighting came into general site use. Up until the 1960s, there was no purpose-designed electrical distribution system available, so the main contractor would usually ask the electrical subcontractor to provide a minimum installation at minimal cost. 

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