Wind and Lightning Safety

Why Talk About the Weather?

We have no control over rain, snow, sleet, wind, lightning or sunshine. But we can control what happens on our job as a result of the elements. Some of the biggest problems on construction jobs are caused by wind and lightning. Wind probably causes the most accidents; lightning can be deadly.

Watch Out For Wind

Don't let the wind catch you off guard. I'm not just thinking of tornadoes or hurricanes, but of everyday winds and unexpected gusts. Wind just loves to pick up anything it can and sail it away. So when it's windy, securely tie or weight down supplies and materials. It's amazing what a little wind can do. Some gusts can pick up a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood from the top of a high rise building and carry it several blocks. Or blow you off a scaffold. On one occasion, the wind blew empty 50 gallon drums off a 15-story building. One drum went through the roof of a tool shed. What would have happened if the drum had landed on you? You'd have had more than a giant sized headache.

It seems the higher you go, the stronger the wind. When working on tall buildings, stay away from roof edges, floor openings, and similar drop-offs where the wind could blow you over. Weight down or otherwise secure material or equipment that can be blown down. Don't loiter on the leeward side of unbraced walls, lumber stacks or anything else that can be blown over by a sudden gust of wind. In many instances, workers have been seriously injured when an unbraced wall or form was blown over on them while they were sitting in its shade during lunch or before starting work.

Lightning Hurts

Every so often we read about workers being struck by lightning. They usually come out second best. Recently a hook-up man was electrocuted when lightning struck the crane boom while he was holding on to the hook preparing some materials to be lifted. We all like to keep things moving until we're rained out. But when lightning is around, it's safer to take shelter early.

Very often an electrical storm occurs without rain. Or a lightning storm precedes the rain. So if you're working with a crane, on top of steel frame-work, or around other projecting equipment or a building the safest thing to do is to seek shelter when you see lightning. You'll be reasonably safe from lightning in-side the structure, particularly when it's equipped with lightning rods.

You'll also be fairly safe in an automobile or truck. But never take shelter under an isolated tree or where you're in contact with a tractor, crane, or other equipment. If you get caught out in the open, stay as low as you can. It's much safer to be down in a ditch than on top of the ground.