A safety torch is divided into a battery compartment (1) and a sealed, in use, switching and lamp compartment (2) separable therefrom. The compartments are electrically connected by fixed connections (9,10,11) passing sealingly through a common wall of the two compartments. The switching and lamp compartment (2) is openable but automatically sealingly lockable, and a tool may be provided to enable the lock to be opened. The switching and lamp compartment is considered to be an "increase safety" enclosure and the battery compartment an "intrinsic safety" enclosure. Switching a lamp (15) of the torch on or off may be accomplished by relative movement between two parts of the switching compartment.