Thunderstorms can be intense weather systems that make strong winds, heavy rain, lightning, and thunder. Powerful lightning strikes can hit trees, bodies of water, vehicles, and even buildings. Lightning can cause power outages, damage to structures, and possibly serious injury. Thus lightning safety measures should be incorporated by every industry.
Some of the most common measures that can be adopted are:
- Have a weather alert radio with battery back-up nearby in the event lightning knocks out electricity.
- Seek shelter, as it greatly reduces the risk of being struck by lightning.
- If outdoors find cover; even hard metal cars can provide adequate lightning safety
- Stay away from conductors such as water, trees, wires, or high altitude
- Keep your guard up to 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder
Understanding the risk, characteristics and precautions play a crucial part in keeping your people safe in the event of severe weather. Lightning is unpredictable and can strike outside the heaviest rainfall areas or even up to 10 miles from any rainfall. Many lightning victims are caught outside during a storm because they didn’t act promptly to get to a safe place, or they went back outdoors too soon. If signs of approaching thunderstorm occur, workers should not begin any tasks they cannot quickly stop. Proper planning and safe practices is the only way to increase lightning safety at your work place.
On a lighter note, did you know these bolts of electricity are also beneficial to our planet?
- It helps the earth to maintain electrical balance as it transfers the negative charge back into the earth
- Lightning strikes liberate nitrates that fertilize the soil. The heat and pressure from a lightning turns nitrogen and other gases in the air into useful compounds. These compounds act as natural fertilisers.
- Lightning also produces ozone, a vital gas in our atmosphere that helps shield the planet from harmful ultraviolet sunlight.
- They serve to cool the earth – create rainfall and remove pollution from the air.
Preparedness reduces lightning risks. Know what to do and how to stay safe when severe weather is in the forecast. But, next time your area endures a thunderstorm, check on your yard a few days later – you’ll notice a difference!
And we, Lightning Eliminators have a revolutionised technology called Dissipation Array System. It’s simple, reliable, inexpensive and very effective in eliminating a lightning strike with the protected area.
Contact us to know more.