It’s a cool Thursday afternoon, you’re hard at work outdoors, and a storm rolls in unexpectedly. What are the odds of being struck by lightning? If you’re working outdoors, it’s probably much higher than you think.  

The National Weather Service estimates that lightning strikes the U.S. an astonishing 20 to 25 million times each year, causing over 300 injuries and 50 fatalities annually. Outdoor workers—especially in construction—account for more than 20% of these fatalities. The risk isn’t just random; it’s predictable and preventable.  Yet, many employers underestimate this and remain unprepared, ignoring OSHA’s critical lightning safety guidelines. If you’re responsible for the safety of your crew, it’s critical to act now.

Employers have a legal and moral responsibility to protect their teams by following the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lightning standards. In this post, we’ll outline the OSHA lightning safety protocols for outdoor workers, provide practical tips, and show you how to protect your team during a lightning strike. 

Lightning Safety at the Workplace

Who is most at risk of being struck by lightning?

Certain jobs significantly increase workers’ risk of lightning hazards. According to the National Lightning Safety Council, outdoor workers account for one-third of all lightning strikes in the United States. According to NOAA, between 2006 and 2015, farming and ranching accounted for 34% of all work-related lightning fatalities. Roofing and construction followed at 15% and 11%, respectively. These jobs put workers in high-risk situations, where open spaces, metal tools, and electrical lines increase exposure to lightning.

These alarming figures from NOAA highlight the need for effective safety measures. The following occupations are particularly vulnerable to lightning strikes:

• Construction workers
• Farming and field labor
• Heavy equipment operators
• Roofing and building maintenance
• Power utility repair
• Airport ground crew
• Lawn and landscaping
• Lifeguards
• Steelwork and telecommunications crews
• Plumbing and pipe fitting crews
• Road crews
• Explosives handling or storage

Weather-related fatalities at the workplace from 2016-2020 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

What are the OSHA Lightning Safety Standards for Outdoor Workers? 

The OSHA lightning rules for outdoor workers were first established in 1970 to minimize the risk of lightning-related accidents, injuries, and fatalities at the workplace.
The OSHA safety standards also note that workers must participate in implementing preventive measures, and know their workers’ rights, along with ensuring they protect themselves and don’t endanger others. 

Reducing Lightning Hazards When Working Outdoors

Employer Responsibilities
Under the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (1970), employers are required to keep workplaces free from hazards that could cause serious harm. This includes recognizing and preparing for lightning risks. Employers must ensure outdoor safety by performing the following actions:

• Monitor weather conditions consistently.
• Train employees on safety protocols.
• Provide clear emergency action plans.

Worker Responsibilities
Employees should understand their rights and responsibilities, which include adhering to safety protocols and avoiding risky behavior during storms.

Key OSHA Lightning Safety Guidelines for Outdoor Workers

• Monitor Weather Conditions: OSHA recommends that employers regularly check weather reports and forecasts to stay ahead of dangerous conditions. Employers must also consider rescheduling jobs to avoid workers being caught outside in hazardous weather conditions.
  
  
• 30/30 Lightning Rule for Resuming Work: Workers must stop all outdoor activities if thunder is heard within 30 seconds of a lightning strike. They must then wait 30 minutes after the last lightning strike to resume work. This is critical because lightning can strike even if the storm seems far away.
  
  
• When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors: If you hear thunder, even if it’s a distant rumble, OSHA recommends going to a safe place immediately.
  
  
• Lightning Safety Distance: Don’t be fooled by a clear sky – lightning can strike even when the sky is clear. The “flash-to-bang” rule isn’t enough, so be prepared to seek shelter at the first sign of thunder. A lightning threat can extend outward from the base of a thunderstorm cloud about 6 to 10 miles – so take cover at a minimum of 6 miles.
  
  
• Lightning Safety Training: Employers must provide safety training at every worksite so that supervisors and employees know where the safe shelters are in advance. Supervisors and workers must be trained to provide warnings in sufficient time to reach the safe shelter and take appropriate precautions.

Emergency Action Plans for Lightning Safety

OSHA regulations mandate that every workplace must create an emergency action plan (EAP), with certain workplaces requiring lightning safety protocols included. An emergency action plan includes written safety protocols that outline a workplace’s prevention and response protocols in case of an emergency. 

Here are a few factors to keep in mind while creating a lightning safety action plan:

• Indicate how workers will be notified of lightning threats.
• Detail the evacuation plans.
• Determine work suspension and post-emergency continuation.
• Identify the safety shelters.
• Plans for lightning monitoring.

Outdoor workers should know where to go if the weather turns dangerous, and they need to get to safety. The emergency action plan must specify a clear path to safety for outdoor workers, and minimize panic and confusion in stressful situations.

What Should Construction and Outdoor Workers Do When Lightning Strikes?

One of the biggest challenges in construction is the unpredictable nature of weather and the different conditions workers may find themselves in when severe weather strikes. Workers could be in fully enclosed substantial buildings, on scaffolding, or in partially built structures—which pose different risks during a storm.

The key is preparation. You don’t want to be thinking about what to do about lightning when it’s happening. Knowing what to do during a lightning storm can make all the difference. Although a few of these OSHA lightning precautions may seem like overkill, they exist to prevent life-threatening injuries and fatalities. 

Here’s a quick guide for outdoor workers during a lightning storm:

Golden rule: If you hear thunder, seek shelter – you might be within striking distance of a lightning storm!

Signs of a Lightning Strike

• If you experience tingling hair or crackling sounds, a lightning strike may be imminent.
  
• If caught outside during a lightning storm, immediately remove all metal objects (including hats), place your feet together, duck your head, and lie low in a baseball catcher’s stance with hands covering your ears.
  

• Watch for early warning signs: Look out for early warning signs of potential lightning strikes, such as high winds, distant thunder or lightning, and dark clouds.
  
• Prepare to act: Assess the threat and take action in advance. It’s crucial to minimize your risk by taking appropriate precautions.
  

Where to go when lightning strikes

• Seek shelter immediately: When looking for shelter, avoid high ground, open spaces, and trees. If you’re forced to stay outdoors, keep your feet together throughout.
  
  • Safe lightning shelters: According to NOAA, the safest place to hide from lightning is a sturdy, fully enclosed building with electrical wiring and plumbing. These buildings can conduct electricity more efficiently than your body. 
    
  • Small outdoor buildings are NOT safe: Avoid dugouts, sheds, rain shelters, etc. If there isn’t a fully enclosed building in the area, a hard-topped metal vehicle with the windows closed is a viable alternative.
    
    
• Avoid open spaces and tall objects: Stay away from trees, telephone poles, and power lines. Lightning follows the path of least resistance, and that’s almost always the tallest object in the area.
  
  
• If caught outdoors:
  • Never lie flat on the ground: According to the National Weather Service, lying flat on the ground, “increases your chance of being struck by a ground current.” 
  • Look for a set of smaller trees surrounded by larger trees.
• If you’re forced to stay outdoors, keep your feet together at all times.

What to do when lightning strikes 

• Squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet (like a baseball catcher) and keep your head low. Make yourself the smallest target possible and minimize your contact with the ground.
• Seek Shelter in Vehicles: If you’re caught outside without any buildings nearby, seek shelter in a vehicle with closed windows. Workers should wait at least 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder or lightning before leaving.

What NOT to do during a lightning strike

• Do NOT use corded devices: Avoid using corded phones, laptops, or other devices during a lightning storm. Cell phones and cordless phones can be used safely.

• Do NOT take a shower or a bath: Lightning can travel through pipes, so skip the shower during a thunderstorm.
  
• Minimize the use of electronic devices: Unplug your devices to avoid damage from power surges caused by lightning strikes.

• Put down the metal: Whether it’s your car keys or your tools, each metal object is a potential conductor. 
  
• During storms or high winds, OSHA prohibits:

• work on or from scaffolds
• crane hoists
• work on top of walls
  
• Beyond direct strikes: Even if a worker isn’t directly struck, lightning can travel through metal objects, causing serious injuries.

What to do if a worker is struck by lightning

• If a worker is struck by lightning and isn’t breathing, or their heart isn’t beating normally, perform CPR immediately. 
• Lightning victims don’t carry an electrical charge, so it’s safe to help them. Call 911 for emergency medical assistance.

Worker Safety Tip: Spring and summer are prime lightning season. Outdoor workers need to be extra cautious during these months.

By following these steps, workers can improve safety conditions and significantly reduce their risk of injury during a lightning storm. But understanding the OSHA rules for lightning is only half the battle. Implementing them in a real-world, fast-paced environment like construction? That’s where Perry Weather comes in.

Perry Weather: Your Outdoor Worker Safety Partner

When you’re managing a construction site, keeping workers safe from unpredictable lightning is crucial. Perry Weather takes the guesswork out of lightning safety and detection, offering more than just weather forecasts—our weather monitoring platform simplifies OSHA policy compliance and ensures safety across high-risk environments like construction sites.

Why Perry Weather Stands Out for Lightning Safety Monitoring:

• Real-Time Lightning Detection: Perry Weather leverages the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN), the world’s most extensive and accurate lightning detection system, so you get lightning data you can always rely on.

Donald Dennis, EHS Manager at Leeward Construction, relies on Perry Weather for precise weather data. “The biggest benefit is its accuracy. Perry Weather is as close as I’m going to get to the numbers just by using one app. It gives the alert before any other lightning app goes off.”

• Actionable Alerts: When lightning is detected, you need to act fast. Perry Weather sends instant, actionable alerts via SMS, email, or software as soon as lightning strikes nearby. You’ll know when it’s time to seek shelter, saving precious minutes.

Marco Chantres, Safety Director at Holder Construction, counts on Perry Weather to keep his team safe. “Especially when it comes to lightning and stand down, it lets us know when lightning is in the area. People can hear the message or the siren and do what they need to stay safe.”

• Automated OSHA Policy Compliance: Perry Weather takes the guesswork out of complying with OSHA’s standards for lightning safety for outdoor workers. It easily integrates your organization’s specific safety protocols, automating alerts and procedures based on OSHA’s lightning safety guidelines.

Marco elaborates, “Having a Perry Weather on a project of this size, 161 acres plus or minus, is taking the workload off me and helping keep everyone safe on the site here at Project Red. We have to follow the OSHA policies, and Perry Weather makes sure we’re proactive.”

• Countdown Timer: A major lightning hazard? Heading back to work too soon. Many victims of lightning strikes are caught outside during a storm because they go back outside before the storm has fully passed and don’t know when it is safe to go back to work. Perry Weather’s countdown timer eliminates guesswork, letting you know when it’s safe to return.

Juan Marquez, Senior EH&S Manager at Leeward Construction, notes, “We’re particularly concerned about our employees who work inside the turbines, especially when there is a lightning strike. We use Perry Weather to detect lightning strikes near the work site and notify our personnel to head indoors.”

• Data-Driven Schedule Planning: Perry Weather goes beyond alerts; we help you plan for the future. Leverage historical data and trend forecasts to optimize work schedules and maximize safety and productivity. 

Donald further states, “Perry Weather helps me get important information out in advance so we can prepare beforehand and not get caught up in a storm.”

With Perry Weather, you can easily track lightning strikes in your area, closely monitor the weather conditions in your construction site, and use the countdown timer to know when to resume work. By integrating real-time alerts, countdown timers, and automated OSHA compliance into daily operations, organizations can take proactive steps to minimize risk.

By following OSHA’s lightning safety standards, employers can protect outdoors workers from the most dangerous and unpredictable hazards in the workplace. Organizations can rely on weather monitoring platforms like Perry Weather to keep workers safe and ensure OSHA compliance. Protect your workers before the next storm hits – start a free two-week trial of Perry Weather today.