Summer is upon us and while you may not manage a facility in an area that is particularly known for a lot of storms, lightning can happen anywhere and is extremely dangerous – even sometimes deadly. Here are a few tips from OSHA that will make your facility and employees safer and more aware of what to do during a storm.
And by the way, this is exactly the type of form that you can easily upload into your CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Software) program.
Shocking Statistics
Just in the United States alone, cloud-to-ground lightning occurs 20 to 25 million times and over 300 people are struck by lightning each year. Not only is this a deadly force of nature, it can also cause permanent disabilities as well. So even if you survive a lightning strike, you may be left different than before – and not for the better.
What To Do:
There are a few things you and your employees can do to help minimize the risk of being struck by lightning.
- Keep up with weather reports when imminent bad weather is near
- Seek shelter in a building or safe place when lightning is nearby
- If you hear thunder, it is time to find shelter
OSHA
Here is more helpful information from the OSHA website:
Employers should have a written Emergency Action Plan (EAP), as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.38 or 29 CFR 1926.35.
The EAP should include a written lightning safety protocol for outdoor workers. This 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
Read More: Help Keep Residence Safe
Using CMMS to ensure your preventative maintenance is being kept up and assets are tracked and emergency protocols are in place, will make dealing with any type of urgent situation easier.
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