DWH Technical Topic: Light-bulb hazard

By Clarence Klassen, P. Eng.

Recently some employees were surprised by a new and unexpected hazard. We noticed some glass embedded in wood covering a metal-grate floor. Looking up we saw a fluorescent lighting tube was missing from the fixture directly overhead. We surmize something, perhaps a pigeon, shook the tube loose, it broke before it hit the ground, and became a sharp projectile.

This tube could easily have pierced a hard hat.

Subsequently, all fixtures in the building had wire guards attached.