Interested in having timely and informative safety-related information sent directly to your e-mail box? LSS publishes our no-charge Saf-T-News every other week. To begin receiving your copy, click here.

Lightning & Outdoor Safety

The first step to reduce the risk of being struck by lightning is education. Lightning Safety Awareness education is essential. The National Weather service dedicates the last full week of June each year to Lightning Safety Week.

Many people do not realize the dangers of lightning. There are several ways to help prepare yourself for an upcoming thunderstorm and threat of lightning striking:

• Keep a watchful eye to the sky
• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or local radio or television for current forecasts
• Watch for lightning flashes

Lightning is the result of the build up and discharge of electrical energy. If you can see lightning or hear thunder you could be in the danger. You can tell how close you are to a lightning strike by counting the seconds between seeing the flash and hearing thunder. For every five seconds you count, the lighting is one mile away. If you can see a flash and instantly hear thunder, the lightning strike is very close and you should seek shelter immediately.

A safe building is one that is fully enclosed with a roof, walls and floor such as a home, school or office building. Partially opened buildings such as a picnic shelter or carports are unsafe buildings. When you are near a safe shelter use the 30/30 Rule. The first “30” represents seconds: If the time between when you see the flash and hear the thunder is 30 seconds or less, the lightning is close enough to hit you. The second “30” standards for minutes: After the last flash of lightning, wait 30 minutes before you leave the shelter.

If you are unable to get to a safe building, get inside a safe vehicle—a hard-top car, truck or SUV. Soft-topped convertibles are not safe vehicles. Remember, when you are inside your safe vehicle during a thunder and lightning storm, do not touch any metal surfaces.

The two most common types of lightning are cloud to ground and intra cloud lightning. Cloud to ground lightning is the most dangerous form of lightning. This type of lightning occurs during the dissipating stage of a thunderstorm. Intra cloud lightning is the most common. It occurs between oppositely charged centers within the same cloud.

A few things to remember if you are caught outdoors to help reduce the risk of being struck by lightning:

• Drop metal objects: i.e. golf clubs or umbrellas
• Get off bikes or motorcycles
• If above tree lines, descend to lower ground
• If you are caught in open areas, crouch with feet together and head low
• Don’t sit or lie on the ground since this provides a wider path for lightning to follow

Individuals that work outdoors also need to be informed regarding lightning risks as a thunderstorm approaches. Education and following workplace lightning safety-warning programs are a must. The workplace needs to warn employees of the possibility of the threat of lightning strikes. The warning needs to be issued early enough so that people can get to a safe location.

Objects at the workplace to avoid during a thunderstorm:

• Stay off or away from anything tall or high including rooftops, scaffolding, utility poles & ladders
• Do not touch material or surfaces that conduct electricity

Most important, if an individual is struck by lightning, call 911 or the local emergency phone number. Something to remember is that the victim does not carry an electrical charge. If their heart has stopped, CPR needs to be performed immediately. Also, take a look at the victim. They may have received an electrical shock and may have been burned. It is important to locate where the person was struck and where the electricity left their body and get the burns treated.

A few disorders that could result from being struck by lightning:

• Death
• Cardiopulmonary injuries, myocardial damages (infarction)
• Pulmonary edema, respiratory

Neurological/Psychiatric injuries:

• Loss of consciousness
• Brain damage
• Numbness/weakness in limbs
• Spinal cord injury
• Sleep or memory disorders

Burns:

• Entry and exit points
• Flash

Injuries can vary between each person struck by lightning. The injuries can range from very minor to very severe.

Click here for information on the SkyScan, product number 110822. The compact SkyScan Lightning/Storm detector uses a fully digital microprocessor, enclosed in a weather-resistant ABS case, to scan for the electronic traces of a lightning storm. By using separate audible and visual alerts, the SkyScan detector is able to give you the approximate distance of an existing storm in miles (0-3, 3-8, 8-20, 20-40). By recognizing the progression of the storm distances, you can tell if the storm is approaching directly or just passing by.

Play it safe when outdoors and watch for threatening weather and take necessary precautions to keep yourself and employees safe.

Sources For More Information

National Weather Service

Thunder.msfc.nasa.gov

National Severe Storms Laboratory

National Lighting Safety Institute

FREE Technical Support
When you have a question, you can rely on our team of technical experts. They'll answer your questions about product specifications, chemical compatibility, regulatory issues, and general worker safety and health.
Call our Safety TECHline™ Technical Support toll-free: 800-356-2501 (6 a.m. to 9 p.m. CT, Monday - Friday). Or e-mail our Technical Support Staff at techsvc@labsafety.com anytime!

FREE Catalog
For products to meet all your workplace safety and industrial needs, turn to Lab Safety Supply. In it you'll find thousands of safety and industrial products, plus a complete service package and our 100% guarantee to stand behind them.
Click here to select a catalog and fill out a request form on-line, or call today to reserve your free copy: 800-356-0783 (7 a.m. to 9 p.m. CT, Monday - Friday).