Thunderstorms always include lightning!
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, www.osha.gov) in collaboration with NOAA (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, www.noaa.gov) publish a fact sheet “Lightning Safety When Working Outdoors,” for outdoor workers, including workers in the construction industry and built environment. OSHA and NOAA warn that “lightning strikes can severely injure or kill workers whose jobs involve working outdoors.”
Regrettably, organizations in the construction industry and built environment from time to time neglect the occupational hazards and safety threats posed by hazardous weather, thunderstorms and lightning strikes, and endanger the lives of field personnel operating out on site.
Always check WeatherBuild Reports and Alerts prior to starting any outdoor work!
Based on the recommendations by OSHA and NOAA for employers and supervisors, including contractors, owners and operators across the construction industry and built environment, WeatherBuild offers the following ten lightning safety best practices for outdoor workers.
10 Lightning Safety Best Practices for Construction
- Check WeatherBuild Reports and Alerts prior to starting any outdoor work.
- WeatherBuild Severe Weather Reports
- WeatherBuild Dangerous Thunderstorm Alerts
- WeatherBuild Lightning Advisory, Watch and Warning Alerts
- WeatherBuild All Clear Notifications
- Reschedule outdoor activities to prevent exposure to hazardous weather.
- Monitor WeatherBuild Alerts and Now Reports when working outdoors.
- Watch for darkening clouds and increasing winds, as early indicators of thunderstorms.
- Seek shelter in buildings upon WeatherBuild Alerts and Now Reports.
- NOAA recommends enclosed buildings with electrical wiring and plumbing.
- Seek shelter in vehicles, if enclosed buildings are not an option.
- NOAA recommends hard-topped metal vehicles with windows rolled-up.
- Shelter in place for at least 30 minutes until the WeatherBuild All Clear Notification.
- Practice phone safety.
- Use mobile phones and handheld radios, not corded phones, unless an emergency.
- Execute your Emergency Action Plan (EAP), as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.38 or 1926.35.
- Implement your written lightning safety protocol for outdoor workers.
More in the next blog post about lightning hazards and lightning safety for the construction industry and built environment…
(Source: https://www.weather.gov/media/owlie/OSHA_FS-3863_Lightning_Safety_05-2016.pdf)
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