by Tim Neubauer, MS, CSP, President of Exceed Safety LLC

Each year, nearly 1,000 people are struck by lightning in the U.S. alone. Lightning strikes cause deaths and people often suffer from neurological issues if they survive. 

For construction workers, these dangers are magnified when site condition limit egress for the structure or the location is remote, and adequate protection is several minutes away! 

OSHA requires and Emergency Action Plan that covers hazards, and if you work in an area prone to lightning, your plan should include a procedure for safe sheltering while on a construction site. Don’t risk it, once an alert is sounded, take cover immediately. OSHA has more guidance in their publication “Lightning Safety When Working Outdoors #3853”, and can be found at this link: https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA3863.pdf 

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