LightningMaster Corp

What can you do to implement outdoor lightning safety plans and equipment to protect your employees and property?

“Upon hearing thunder, it’s time to head indoors” is likely to be a constantly repeated and thus inherent notion for outdoor lightning safety. Some may be familiar with the 30/30 rule, essentially meaning that if the time between seeing lightning and hearing thunder is less than 30 seconds, it is time to find a safe place for shelter. For employees working in large installations such as the oil and natural gas fields or water treatment plants in Texas, Florida, or Oklahoma, this phenomenon is a continuous concern during storm season. In fact, Florida has some of the most prevalent occurrences of lightning storms in the country, therefore, not surprisingly, a notoriously high rate of lightning strikes and fatalities.

Large Facilities and Outdoor Lightning Safety

The problem with large structures is that it is not so much a question of if lighting will strike, but when it will. The silver lining that can be found in all of this is that proper outdoor lightning safety procedures exist to ensure lighting strikes do not happen or at least divert them if an unavoidable situation occurs.
Large installations of any kind are practically considered “sitting ducks” for lightning strikes. However, there are some procedures that can be taken to greatly minimize the likelihood of employees and buildings getting struck and thus suffering the consequences.

The following are some examples:

  • Pay attention to the weather forecast in your area
  • If you can hear thunder, it is time to go indoors, this is the most basic plan for outdoor lightning safety
  • If stuck outdoors, crouch as low as possible
  • Do not operate electronic equipment
  • Lightning tends to strike the tallest objects
  • Wait at least 30 minutes after the storm passes to go outdoors

Outdoor Lightning Safety: Indirect Lightning Strikes

The problem is not necessarily only receiving a direct hit by lightning; when outdoors, an indirect lightning strike occurring over one hundred feet away can still cause damage and injury. Even when indoors, any nearby lightning activity can cause various issues.

It is entirely possible for one to be injured by lightning indoors. It’s recommended that one stand away from windows and water sources during a lightning storm.
Indirect lightning strikes can cause electrical failure and shortages indoors as well.

Even though this is theoretically true, there is a bit more to it than just that said concept.

Contact Lightning Master to Learn More About Outdoor Lightning Safety

Lighting Master has decades of dedicated research on the properties of lightning and the way it strikes to develop comprehensive plans and corresponding products to aid in making workplaces and facilities safer.

The truth is that it is almost impossible to predict the behavior of lightning, all one can do is implement the necessary precautions for outdoor lightning safety. Lighting Master, however, has a much deeper understanding regarding how to protect people and equipment, in the case of a lightning strike. Thunderstorms can come from “out of the blue”, so to speak, and when they do, your employees may not have ample time to go to a safe space. Therefore, it is the company’s responsibility to ensure the employees are as safe and understand the best actions for outdoor lightning safety.

The first step is by calling Lightning Master at (+1) 727- 447-6800 today and speaking with a representative for outdoor lightning safety information. We will survey your property and identify areas that can benefit from lightning protection systems.