Lightning Safety. Blue Ridge Services, Inc Hites Cove Rd Mariposa, CA Name

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1 Lightning Safety Blue Ridge Services, Inc Hites Cove Rd Mariposa, CA Name

2 Printed in the United States of America World Rights Reserved This booklet or any portion thereof may not be copied or reproduced in any form, except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, nor distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a data bas retrieval system, without the express, prior, written permission of the author. Copyright 2014 by Neal Bolton Copyrighted 2014 This book is intended to assist the reader in understanding how work safely in a variety of situations that may occur at a landfill. It is not intended to replace common sense or judgment. The author(s) and publisher(s) of this manual shall not be held responsible in any way for the safety of those using this material for training purposes. Safe operation of every landfill is the responsibility of that facility s owner, manager, operators and laborers and other staff. Published by: Blue Ridge Services, Inc Hites Cove Rd Mariposa, CA 95338

3 Introduction The sky grows dark; a steady wind begins to blow. He hears it. A distant rumble, followed by a moment of silence; the time is perfect! He raises his kite into the air, a single key looped onto the string. He waits and then CRASH! Lightning streaks across the sky and sends a bright spark through the key. A lightning storm is underway. And Benjamin Franklin just discovered the concept of electricity. Benjamin Franklin was not the only one to witness the effects of lightning. We ve all experienced thunder and lightning, perhaps not with a key and kite, but most of us have witnessed this natural phenomenon. Every year more people are killed by lightning than hurricanes and tornadoes combined. Apart from floods, lightning storms are the leading cause of death by natural disaster. According to National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) approximately 100 people are killed by lightning each year. But the other 1000 or so survivors may end up with life-long injuries and disabilities. This video will address the risks associated with lightning storms as well as tips for preventing accidents and injuries during a lightning storm.

How Lightning Works Lightning is a strange and beautiful phenomenon. It also presents many risks, so understanding how it works can help workers be safe during a lightning storm.

4 How Lightning Works Lightning is a strange and beautiful phenomenon. It also presents many risks, so understanding how it works can help workers be safe during a lightning storm. Lightning is the result of electrostatic buildup in clouds and like other electrical circuits, is based on negative and positive. Typically the negative buildup occurs in the clouds and the positive on the ground. When the charge builds up enough, a gigantic spark of electrons will move from the clouds to the ground. If it is a big enough charge the negative will light up the sky as it descends, taking on what is called a stepladder appearance.

5 The negative will then make contact with whatever object is closest to it. Whether it is a tree, telephone line, building or person, the lightning will strike it. After the strike you typically hear thunder. The thunder sound you hear is actually the lightning charge. Its electricity makes the air around it up to 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun. That energy, makes the air around it vibrate and expand, resulting in the loud sound we hear. Statistics Many people think that being hit by lightning is unlikely, but according to statistics, lightning hits the ground in the US 25 million times a year. According to the National Weather Service, the chance of someone in the US being killed or injured in any given year is one in 240,000. But if that person lives 80 years, their odds of being hit over their lifespan become one in Chances are high that someone you know has been or will be struck by lightning. Did you know that lightning can and does strike more than once in the same place? Consider the Empire State Building, which is, on average, struck 23 times a year and during one storm was struck 24 times within 8 minutes.

6 Roy Sullivan, also known as Lightning Man holds a place in the Guinness Book of Records. He was a park ranger for the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia for 35 years. During those 35 years he was struck a total of seven times, and survived every one. Risks The leading cause of death from lightning is cardiac arrest. But there are other injuries that occur from lightning strikes that will eventually lead to death. These injuries are severe burns and permanent brain damage. If brain damage does occur, the symptoms may not become evident for weeks or even months. The symptoms of brain damage are similar to postconcussion symptoms and could include seizures, nausea, vomiting, headaches, ringing in the ears, dizziness, memory-loss, and in some cases personality change. Victims may also experience insomnia, oversleeping or only being able to sleep for 2-3 hours per night. Everyone reacts differently to lightning strikes. Often survivors will not even begin to feel the symptoms of brain or nerve-ending damage for weeks to months after the injury. Because of this it is vital that victims seek medical help/evaluation immediately after

7 being struck. It could mean the difference between life and death. Lightning storms can cause various problems at landfills that may include: 1) Downed power lines 2) Electrocution 3) Fires 4) Machine damage 5) Worker Injury 6) Death Listen to these stories. A man was cleaning out a storm drain when lightning struck him and threw him across the street. He only experienced minor injuries. Another scenario involves two workers who were killed while working during a thunder/lightning storm. Lightning struck the first worker who was killed immediately from heart attack. The other worker, who was too far away to see his coworker struck, was taking shelter in an outhouse during the storm. After the storm seemed to subdue, he came back out and continued working. He was bent over, working when the lightning struck him. The paramedics had trouble finding him and when they finally got him to the

8 hospital he was declared dead. He had died from burns. Those kinds of incidents happen. Take the time to plan how you will react to a lightning storm. Prevention Here are some tips that can help you stay safe during a lightning storm. If a lightning storm approaches, take cover. Get into a car or machine, close the windows and stay clear of any metal objects.

9 If you are near a building get inside and again, avoid metal objects, electrical lines and telephone lines. If you are out in the open and there is no shelter, squat down as low as you can but do not lie directly on the ground. Lying on the ground increases your risk of becoming part of the lightning bolts circuit. Remember electricity will follow the path of least resistance as it flows to ground. As you squat down try to cover your ears to prevent hearing damage. Stay low until the storm passes to minimize your chance of being struck.

10 When lightning strikes it looks for the shortest distance from the sky to the ground. Whether it is the tip of a roof, telephone pole, a tree or you, lightning will be drawn to the nearest object between it and the sky. Lightning can also travel long distances along electric or phone lines, pipelines, and metal fences. Stay far from such items and avoid using a landline phone during lightning storms. After any lightning storm, wait approximately 30 minutes before going back to work if you work outside.

11 In summary: 1. Have a radio handy so that if a storm develops, you can stay informed 2. Take cover and stay low 3. Get into a car or machine and close the windows 4. Cover ears to prevent hearing damage 5. Stay away from metal objects, electrical lines, phone lines, etc. 6. Wait 30 minutes after the storm before going back outside Response Regardless of how closely you follow the tips listed above, accidents can happen. Planning in advance how to respond to a lightning-related injury could minimize injury or even save someone s life. If someone you are working with is struck by lightning there are several things you should do. First, call 911. A lightning strike victim may be disoriented, unable to speak or even unconscious. If they are not breathing you should administer CPR. Victims of lightning carry no residual electrical charge in their body so touching them poses no risk. If there is bleeding or a burn wound, administer first aid, but only after you know that the person has a pulse and is breathing.

Summary To sum it up, remember, if a lightning storm occurs at your facility, get inside! Whether it s inside a vehicle with closed windows or a building, get out of the open.

12 Summary To sum it up, remember, if a lightning storm occurs at your facility, get inside! Whether it s inside a vehicle with closed windows or a building, get out of the open. Don t be the tallest object no matter where you are, stay as far away from metal objects as possible. If shelter is not available, squat down with your feet close together and your hands over your ears. Be prepared to call 911 in case of injury. Talk to your supervisor and coworkers about emergency response plans. The best response is to identify the risk before hand and get to safe shelter.

13 Safety Savvy Ok, are you safety savvy? It s time to take the safety test. Remember it s an easy test. There is no penalty for wrong answers. If you make a mistake here, nobody gets hurt or killed, but take it seriously because it will hopefully help you prepare for the real test you take everyday - out on the landfill. Question 1 This worker was caught in the middle of a lightning storm, there is no cover nearby-what should he do?

14 Question 2 Is this worker in a safe position? Question 3 What is the leading cause of death from lightning?

15 Question 4 Look at these photos. Which are considered safe during a lightning storm?

Conclusion After watching this video you should have a clear idea of what to expect in the event of a lightning storm, as well as ways to respond to one.

16 Conclusion After watching this video you should have a clear idea of what to expect in the event of a lightning storm, as well as ways to respond to one. Remember lightning can cause serious injury or death. Know how to keep yourself and others safe during a lightning storm. Remember that safety is not just a plan, it s an attitude. Use common sense and judgment, and be safe. It s never too soon to start thinking about safety.

17 No.1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 Answers a. Squat down, b. Put his feet close together c. Put his hands over his ears d. Stay put for at least 30 minutes after the storm passes a. He should not be near water during a lightning since electricity can travel through it a. Cardiac arrest a. Not Safe b. Safe c. Safe d. Not Safe e. Not Safe

18 Notes:

19 Notes: Safety is not a plan it s an attitude

20 Notes:

21 Notes: Safety is not a plan it s an attitude

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23 Notes:

24 This is Your Book. It is a valuable reference. Keep it handy and refer to it often Blue Ridge Services, Inc.

Lightning Safety. Teacher s Edition. Safety: It s no accident! Produced by: Blue Ridge Services, Inc.

Lightning Safety. Teacher s Edition. Safety: It s no accident! Produced by: Blue Ridge Services, Inc. Lightning Safety Teacher s Edition Safety: It s no accident! Produced by: Blue Ridge Services, Inc. Landfill Safety Training Series Instructions This teacher s edition is organized into a simple format.