15 Point Lightning Emergency Action Plan Requirements Checklist

Written and Oral Lightning Emergency Action Plans

In the fact sheet “Lightning Safety When Working Outdoors,” OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, www.osha.gov) and NOAA (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, www.noaa.gov) stress the need for written and oral Emergency Action Plans or EAPs, as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.38 and 29 CFR 1926.35. Lightning Emergency Action Plans include lightning safety protocols for outdoor workers, to ensure employee safety from emergencies such as dangerous thunderstorms and lightning strikes.

15 Point Lightning Emergency Action Plan Requirements Checklist

Based on the Standards – 29 CFR, Part Number 1019, Standard Number 1910.38, Emergency action plans address 1910.38(a) Application; 1910.38(b) Written and oral emergency action plans; and, 1910.38(c) Minimum elements of an emergency action plan. Here is a Lightning Emergency Action Plan requirements checklist for the construction industry and built environment:

1. Create a written emergency action plan for dangerous thunderstorms and lightning strikes.
2. Keep the emergency action plan in the workplace, such as the site office or job trailer.
3. Make the emergency action plan available for all employees for review.
4. Include procedures for reporting dangerous thunderstorms and lightning strikes.
5. Include procedures for emergency evacuation in the event of thunderstorms and lightning.
6. Include the types of evacuation and exit route assignments.
7. Include procedures to be followed by employees who remain for critical operations.*
8. Include procedures to account for all employees after evacuation.
9. Include procedures to be followed by employees performing rescue or medical duties.
10. Include contacts who need information about the plan or explanation of duties.
11. Maintain an employee alarm system.
12. Use distinctive signals in the employee alarm system, e.g. lightning warning and all clear.
13. Comply with the requirements in § 1910.165 Employee alarm systems.
14. Designate and train employees to assist in a safe and orderly evacuation of other employees.
15. Review the lightning emergency action plan with each employee.

*If applicable for the project or program in the construction industry and built environment, and before evacuation.

29 CFR 1910.38 Emergency action plans

1910.38(a): Application. An employer must have an emergency action plan whenever an OSHA standard in this part requires one. The requirements in this section apply to each such emergency action plan.

1910.38(b): Written and oral emergency action plans. An emergency action plan must be in writing, kept in the workplace, and available to employees for review. However, an employer with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally to employees.*

1910.38(c): Minimum elements of an emergency action plan. An emergency action plan must include at a minimum…

1910.38(c)(1): Procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency;

1910.38(c)(2): Procedures for emergency evacuation, including type of evacuation and exit route assignments;

1910.38(c)(3): Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate;

1910.38(c)(4): Procedures to account for all employees after evacuation;

1910.38(c)(5): Procedures to be followed by employees performing rescue or medical duties; and

1910.38(c)(6): The name or job title of every employee who may be contacted by employees who need more information about the plan or an explanation of their duties under the plan.

1910.38(d): Employee alarm system. An employer must have and maintain an employee alarm system. The employee alarm system must use a distinctive signal for each purpose and comply with the requirements in § 1910.165.

1910.38(e): Training. An employer must designate and train employees to assist in a safe and orderly evacuation of other employees.

1910.38(f): Review of emergency action plan. An employer must review the emergency action plan with each employee covered by the plan:

1910.38(f)(1): When the plan is developed or the employee is assigned initially to a job;

1910.38(f)(2): When the employee’s responsibilities under the plan change; and

1910.38(f)(3): When the plan is changed.

[45 FR 60703, Sept. 12, 1980; FR 67 67963, Nov. 7, 2002]

More in the next blog post about lightning hazards and lightning safety for the construction industry and built environment…

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