Have you ever taken a moment to look out your window during a thunderstorm and felt like the lightning has struck a little too close to home? Lightning can be a beautiful yet frightening weather phenomenon that can cause a severe safety hazard if you are not sheltered.
In fact, more than half of people struck by lighting are struck by ground currents, which happens when lightning strikes and energy travels through the ground up to 30 meters away. And each year, lightning kills approximately 10 Canadians and injures approximately 100 to 150 others.
What would you do if you were stuck in the middle of the lightning storm?
This week, Environment Canada is hosting Lightning Safety Awareness Week to raise awareness of the dangers associated with lightning and to educate on preventative safety measures that will keep you, your family and your employees safe when lightning strikes.
According the Environment Canada, the first and most important thing to remember is that if you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance of lightning and should take shelter immediately.
Here are some safety tips on what you can do when when you’ve taken shelter indoors or outdoors:
Indoors:
Taking shelter indoors is the best option during a thunderstom. Environment Canada recommends taking the following precautions:
- Before the storm hits, disconnect electrical appliances including radios and television sets. Do not touch them during the storm.
- Don’t go outside unless absolutely necessary.
- Keep as many walls as possible between you and the outside.
- Don’t handle electrical equipment or telephones. The electrical current from the lightning strike will travel through wires and cords and if you are directly connected with them, you could be struck. Use battery operated appliances only. Cordless telephones are safe however you could receive a very loud noise on the phone which may seem like a shock. This would be consistent with the house or somewhere nearby being struck by lightning.
Outdoors:
If you’re caught outdoors during the storm and are unable to find shelter indoors, take shelter in a low lying area and avoid tall objects such as trees, poles, wires and fences. Outdoor safety recommendations from Environment Canada include:
- Avoid putting yourself above the surrounding landscape. Seek shelter in low-lying areas such as valleys, ditches and depressions but be aware of flooding.
- Stay away from water. Don’t go boating or swimming if a storm threatens, and get to land as quickly as possible if you are already on the water. Lightning can strike the water and travel a substantial distance from its point of contact.
- Stay away from objects that conduct electricity, such as tractors, golf carts, golf clubs, metal fences, motorcycles, lawnmowers and bicycles.
- Avoid being the highest point in an open area. Swinging a golf club, or holding an umbrella or fishing rod can make you the tallest object and a target for lightning.
- You are safe inside a car during lightning, but be aware of downed power lines which may be touching your car. You are safe inside the car, but you may receive a shock if you step outside.
- In a forest, seek shelter in a low-lying area under a thick growth of small trees or bushes.
- Keep alert for flash floods, sometimes caused by heavy rainfall, if seeking shelter in a ditch or low-lying area.
Check out this video from more information about Lightning Safety by Environment Canada:
Remember “when thunder roars, go indoors” and stay indoors for 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder is heard.
If you are an employer, it is a requirement under Occupational Health and Safety that you provide training on topics such as outdoor safety hazards, including weather and heat exhaustion. You are required to recognize workplace hazards, including weather-related hazards such as lightning, and have safe procedures and work systems in place to minimize the risk of injury and harm to employees.
Contact us today and we will work with you develop and implement a workplace health and safety plan that helps keep you and your employees safe.
About F.A.S.T. Rescue
F.A.S.T. Rescue are health and safety experts offering consulting, safety supplies and training solutions that help make employees safe in the workplace. We’re passionate about health and safety, offering unrivaled value and solutions with a satisfaction guarantee. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
