Lightning is an occupational hazard that is often overlooked. Workers who are exposed to significant lightning risk include those who work outdoors in open spaces, on or near tall objects, or near explosives or conductive materials, etc.
Many lightning victims are caught outside during a storm because they did not act promptly to get to a safe place, or went outside too soon after a storm had passed.
Here are some lightning safety tips on how to protect your workers:
- Be prepared to stop working and take it to safer levels – a low-level area is always preferred.
- Weather plays an important role in deciding what can or cannot be done on certain days. Stay up-to-date with weather reports via social media, mobile apps, internet or radios. Always be one step ahead and make working conditions safe for your workers.
- On the other hand, if thunderstorms are predicted for an entire week or longer, schedule the work in such a way that your team can quickly stop in case of a sudden lightning storm.
- Always ensure that your team knows which building to seek out after hearing thunder or seeing lightning
- Stay away from trees, water bodies, or any kind of conductive material.
- In case a building is not within the vicinity, you and your team will be much safer in a hard-topped metal vehicle (car, minivan, bus, truck, etc.)than outside. The steel frame of the vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching the metal. While inside a safe vehicle, do not use electronic devices such as radio communications during a thunderstorm.
- If outside in the open area, and feeling your hair stand on end; it's an indicator that lightning is about to strike. Try to make yourself the smallest target possible by swatting low to the ground on the balls of your feet. Placing your hands over your ears and head between the knees. Do not lie flat on the ground.
- Always have an emergency action in place and ensure that all your workers are aware of it.
- Have CPR trained managers and workers in case of emergencies
- Follow the 30-30 lightning safety rule
- Install LEC patented lightning protection system to eliminate lightning from the protected area.
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