The clocks officially go back at 2am on Sunday 25th October 2026, which means one glorious extra hour in bed – followed quickly by months of travelling to work in the dark.
For most of us in quarrying, construction, energy and waste, early starts are part of the job. But once the mornings turn dark, site safety risks change. Visibility drops, plant and people become harder to spot, and that 6am arrival suddenly feels a lot more like the middle of the night. By December, sunrise in the UK won’t arrive until around 8am, so many shifts will start (and some will finish) in full darkness.
The good news? Most of the risk comes down to a handful of simple habits. Here’s our Mando Solutions guide to staying safe when arriving on site in the dark – when the sun hasn’t quite shown up yet.
1. Driving to work in the dark safely
For many site workers, the riskiest part of the day isn’t on site at all – it’s the drive in. Rural roads with no street lighting can make for a tricky commute on dark winter mornings.
- Do a quick lights check. Walk round your vehicle before the clocks change and double check that your headlights, brake lights and indicators are all working. A blown bulb is an easy fix in daylight but a real hazard in the dark.
- Clear your windscreen properly. Frosty mornings are coming, so keep a windscreen scraper handy in the car and clear the entire screen, not just a gap to peer through.
- Slow down on site approach roads. Haul roads and site entrances can be muddy, unlit and shared with HGVs.
2. Wear hi-vis and make sure you can be seen
In the dark, a dump truck driver has far less chance of spotting you than you have of spotting them. Make their job easy by:
- Putting your hi-vis on before you get out of the car, not once you’ve wandered over to the cabin. The car park is part of the site.
- Keeping your hi-vis clean. Hi-vis that’s covered in mud and dust isn’t very hi-vis at all. Reflective strips that are worn or peeling won’t do their job properly either.
- Carrying a torch or head torch. Even well-lit sites have dark corners, so make sure you can see and be seen.
- Making eye contact with drivers. If you can’t see the driver, assume they can’t see you. Wait until you get a clear signal before crossing in front of moving plant.
3. Arriving on site safely in the dark
The first ten minutes on site are when people are most likely to rush. To do it safely, do it properly.
- Park in designated areas only and always follow site rules on parking.
- Stick to marked pedestrian walkways. Shortcuts through potentially dangerous areas are a bad idea in daylight and a terrible one in the dark.
- Sign in every time. If there’s an emergency, the site needs to know exactly who is there.
- Report broken site lighting. If a floodlight is out or a walkway is badly lit, tell your supervisor. It’s a quick fix that could prevent a serious incident.
- Listen at the safety briefing. Darker mornings can mean changes to traffic routes or working areas. Don’t assume today is the same as yesterday.
4. Lone working on dark mornings: first in? Don’t go it alone
If you’re often first on site, darker mornings add an extra layer of risk.
- Know your site’s lone working procedure and follow it, including any check-in calls or apps.
- Let someone know when you’ve arrived, especially on remote sites.
- Keep your phone charged and check you have signal or a working radio before heading out to a remote part of site.
Make site safety a habit this winter
The clocks going back is a good reminder that safety isn’t something we sort once and forget. A few small habits make a big difference when visibility is low, and they mean everyone gets home safely at the end of the shift.
Are you looking for your next role in quarrying, construction, energy or waste? Get in touch with the Mando Solutions team today.
