In this post we go over work lights, what they are, why one would use a work light and who typically uses them.
What would you do if you had an extra hour per day? Countless articles and blog posts pose this question seemingly every year when the days get shorter, and in many places, the clocks are moved back an hour. For many people, this hypothetical hour would be used on leisure activities. For others, it would be used to get more work done. Whatever the answer would be for you, the idea is to make a list of the many things you’ve always wanted to do, but never had the time, reflect on them and find a way to fit them into your busy schedule.
Alas, fitting those activities into your schedule is not always easy to do, which is probably why you never did it in the first place, and that aforementioned hypothetical extra hour per day is just that, hypothetical. It doesn't really exist. However, for those of you that have outdoor hobbies or work, there is one way to extend your day into night to gain that extra hour or more, and that's through the use of work lights.
What are work lights?
Work lights are highly powerful, high-lumen industrial lights, akin to floodlights, that are usually fixed to adjustable stands or tripods that allow you to light up large areas. They can also be called light towers, generator lights, scene lights, site lights, spot lights and task lights. They are usually portable and powered through gas or electric generators or they can be cordless work lights powered by rechargeable batteries.
Although there are still work light bulbs of the halogen, fluorescent and incandescent variety, its more common these days to see LED work lights. LED lighting is very popular for a number of reasons including that they are more cost and energy efficient and produce little to no heat compared to other bulb types.
Why use work lights?
Work lights are an important tool to have on a job site, as they enhance safety and efficiency, allowing the worker to see better, which lessens the possibility of accidents or mishaps. But the same applies to anyone whose activities take place outdoors at night or in the dark, whether that be for work or recreation. For example, construction work often takes place a night outdoors, and work lights are essential; however, the carpenter hobbyist may need a work light to light up his or her indoor work area to keep safe.
Work lights aren't necessarily only useful at night, but can also be handy on overcast days or when working in the shade or in a dark place like a workshop, to help you see exactly what you’re doing.
Who can benefit from the use of work lights?
Speaking of who or where one might use a work light, there are many industry and leisure applications for work lights. Below are just a few.
Rail and Road Construction and Industrial Maintenance
Work lights are perfect portable lighting for night-time road construction workers or railway engineers. Factories will also benefit from having one of these portable work lights nearby, as backup emergency lighting. For professionals working in hazmat industries, like Oil & Gas Refineries, Fire Brigades or Petrochemicals, there are even ATEX explosion-proof safety work lights that can be employed to light up work sites where explosive atmospheres may exist.
Emergency, Fire and Rescue Services
EMS professionals and first responders will be able to light up remote areas and emergency scenes in seconds. Fire and rescue professionals as well will need scene lights to ensure they are able to fight fires or secure scenes of an accident.
Police and Military
Work lights will allow for quick deployment of police checkpoints and crime or emergency scenes. Crime scene investigation is another application for work lights, so that coroners and law enforcement can assess scenes in dark or remote areas.
Some other applications for military and police would be field hospitals, command centers, landing zone lighting for helicopters and other aerial vehicles, clean-up operations, walkways and perimeter lighting, sobriety stops and security checkpoints to name just a few.
Other applications for work lights
Obviously, there are many other applications for work lights beyond those already listed. Any activity that takes place at night or in the dark might need illumination, but below are just a few others:
- Airports - refueling aircraft, luggage handling, boarding and unboarding of passengers, landing zone lighting and runway maintenance
- Traffic Safety - roadside accidents, highway and road construction and maintenance
- Sporting activities - outdoor night time practice and competitions
- Construction - often takes place at night
- Filming and videography - filming, photography and videography at night or in dark remote areas
- Backup lighting - backup lighting for facilities that require continuity of lighting in case the lights go out unexpectedly
- Hobbies or recreational activities - painting; carpentry, such as lighting a lathe; automotive, such as car maintenance; to light up garages and work shops
When the lights go out, Peli is there to help
Having said the above, Peli's work lights (RALS) provide increased performance and safer working conditions. Portability, a long run-time and easy setup makes them ideal for work in the dark so you can keep your efforts moving through the night.
“Getting the job done isn’t always a 9 to 5 operation,” said Piero Marigo, Peli Products EMEA Managing Director. “The bottom line is that a properly lit job site is safer and RALS lighting systems provide that.”
MULTIPLE WAYS TO LIGHT UP A WORK SITE
PELI™ RALS: Energy-efficient, Self-Contained Flood Lights
Extremely powerful, rechargeable lighting for your work area without the use of cables or generators. With up to 24,000 lumens and a run time that lasts an entire workshift, features include multiple heads, multi-position deployable masts with 360º rotating heads and swappable battery (selected models).
PELI™ 9600 LINEAR LIGHT: The First Linear Lighting Without Dark Spots
Now it’s easy to light up long stretches of construction sites, rail tracks or tunnels without the hassles of conventional heavyweight light towers. The Peli™ 9600 Linear Light allows you to connect multiple light heads from one power source and eliminates dark spots thanks to the specialist optics.
If your interested in Peli's Remote Area Lighting Systems, don't hesitate to contact us or read more about our RALS work lights here. Additionally you can download our FREE guide to Peli RALS work lights by clicking on the button below.
