Toolbox talk · Emergencies
Lightning and severe weather
Storms can build fast this time of year, and on our sites we work high, in the open, and around metal. Lightning can strike miles ahead of the rain, so waiting until it pours is too late. Today we go over when we stop, where we go, and when we come back.
Published 2026-10-23
Key points
- 1Check the forecast before the shift and during the day. If storms are expected, the foreman will plan ahead and tell you who is watching the sky.
- 2When thunder roars, go indoors. If you hear thunder or see lightning, stop work right away and head for shelter. Don't finish the cut or the last few screws.
- 3Know where safe shelter is before the storm hits. Safe means a closed building with wiring and plumbing, or a hard-top vehicle with the windows up. Porta-johns, open sheds, tents, and scaffolds are not safe.
- 4Get off roofs, scaffolds, ladders, lifts, and steel right away. Lower boom lifts and crane booms if it is safe to do so, and stay away from rebar, fences, and tall equipment.
- 5Stay out of trenches and away from water and wet ground during a storm. Excavations can also flood or cave in after heavy rain, so they get checked before anyone goes back in.
- 6Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back outside. Every new thunder clap restarts the clock.
- 7If someone is struck, call 911 right away. A person struck by lightning does not carry a charge, so it is safe to touch them and start CPR if you are trained.
Talk it over
- Where is the closest safe shelter from where you are working today, and how long does it take to get there?
- What work on this site would take the longest to stop safely, like a lift up high or a crane pick, and how do we plan for that?
- Have you ever kept working when you heard thunder? What made you keep going, and what would make it easier to stop?
Remember
When thunder roars, go indoors, and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before coming back out.
Also in the other language: Rayos y mal tiempo
Official sources
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General information, not legal advice. Templates and examples should be reviewed by a competent person before use. HardHat Binder is not affiliated with or endorsed by OSHA.