Near-term, practical solutions to problems faced by transportation operators and contractors such as lightning strikes
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies publishes “Protecting Airport Personnel from Lightning Strikes” as a part of the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP, www.trb.org/acrp). The work was sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and was conducted in the Airport Cooperative Research Program, which is administered by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies. Further, “Protecting Airport Personnel from Lightning Strikes” applies to owners, operators and contractors across the facility lifecycle of airports, from new construction to ongoing operations and maintenance (O&M) to shutdowns, turnarounds and outages (STOs).
Lightning strikes are particularly hazardous to construction and operations at airports
Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP, www.trb.org/acrp) is “…an industry-driven, applied research program that develops near-term, practical solutions to problems faced by airport operators…” including O&M and STOs. “Protecting Airport Personnel from Lightning Strikes” highlights how “…lightning strikes are particularly hazardous to ramp operations at airports, where ramp workers need to cease outdoor activities when lightning presents an imminent danger.” Further, the Impacts on Practice document describes how lightning prediction technologies monitor the buildup of atmospheric electric fields in response to charged clouds, and also monitor the growth and movement of systems that develop into thunderstorms.
Establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for warning outdoor workers about lightning
Given the risks to life-safety posed by dangerous thunderstorms and lightning strikes at airports, it is mission critical for owners, operators and contractors to establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for notifying outdoor workers in danger and for suspending outdoor activities. Some airports alert outdoor workers when lightning strikes within 8 miles of the facility, and then within 5 miles. Other airports notify outdoor workers with an advisory alert when lightning strikes within 40 miles, a watch alert when lightning strikes within 20 miles, and a warning alert when lightning strikes within 10 miles, followed by potential all clear and all clear notifications for activity reinstatement when no lightning strikes within 40 miles for at least 30-minutes.
(Source: onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/acrp/acrp_iop_004.pdf)
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