Employers should recognize lightning as an occupational hazard and take precautions to prevent worker exposure to lightning. Supervisors and workers at outdoor worksites should take lightning safety seriously.


Workers whose jobs involve working outdoors in open spaces, on or near tall objects, or near conductive materials (e.g., metal) have significant exposure to lightning risks. Worker activities at higher risk for lightning hazards include farming and field labor, and lawn services and landscaping.


Reducing Lightning Hazards When


Working Outdoors Employers, supervisors, and workers should understand lightning risks, characteristics, and precautions to minimize workplace hazards. 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 did not act promptly to get to a safe place, or they go back outside too soon after a storm has passed. If signs of approaching thunderstorms occur, workers should not begin any task they cannot quickly stop. Proper planning and safe practices can easily increase lightning safety when working outdoors.


OSHA and NOAA recommend that employers and supervisors follow these lightning safety best practices for workers whose jobs involve working outdoors:


Check NOAA Weather Reports: Prior to beginning any outdoor work, employers and supervisors should check NOAA weather reports (weather.gov) and radio forecasts for all weather hazards. OSHA recommends that employers consider rescheduling jobs to avoid workers being caught outside in hazardous weather conditions. When working outdoors, supervisors and workers should continuously monitor weather conditions. Watch for darkening clouds and increasing wind speeds, which can indicate developing thunderstorms. Pay close attention to local television, radio, and Internet weather reports, forecasts, and emergency notifications regarding thunderstorm activity and severe weather.


TPI Turf News March/April 2025


Seek Shelter in Buildings: Employers and supervisors should know and tell workers which buildings to go to after hearing thunder or seeing lightning. NOAA recommends seeking out fully enclosed buildings with electrical wiring and plumbing. Remain in the shelter for at least 30 minutes after hearing the last sound of thunder.


Vehicles as Shelter: If safe building structures are not accessible, employers should guide workers to hard-topped metal vehicles with rolled up windows. Remain in the vehicle for at least 30 minutes after hearing the last sound of thunder.


Phone Safety: After hearing thunder, do not use corded phones, except in an emergency. Cell phones and cordless phones may be used safely.


Emergency Action Plan: Employers should have a written Emergency Action Plan (EAP), as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.38 or 29 CFR 1926.35. Te EAP should include a written lightning safety protocol for outdoor workers. Tis lightning safety protocol should: • Inform supervisors and workers to take action after hearing thunder, seeing lightning, or perceiving any other warning signs of approaching thunderstorms.


• Indicate how workers are notified about lightning safety warnings.


• Identify locations and requirements for safe shelters. • Indicate response times necessary for all workers to reach safe shelters.


• Specify approaches for determining when to suspend outdoor work activities, and when to resume outdoor work activities.


• Account for the time required to evacuate customers and members of the public, and the time needed for workers to reach safety.


Every EAP should include written instructions on how to contact local emergency management and the National Weather Service for information related to the safety of their staff. In addition, contact information for all personnel and a designated individual in their family should be easily accessible to management if needed.


Employers should also post information about lightning safety at outdoor worksites. All employees should be trained on how to follow the EAP, including the lightning safety procedures.


NOAA Lightning Safety Toolkit


Program Te Lightning Safety Toolkit program was founded in 2011 to increase lightning safety and preparedness at outdoor venues. Tese toolkits have been developed with the input and best practices of key stakeholders. NOAA recently released internet-accessible Lightning Safety Toolkits that enable an organization to complete an interactive form (must review and accept Terms of Use)


43


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68