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Posted By Chris Knagg
A man using a skylift as access to fix steelwork on the top of an existing steel structure built on top of a brick built structure was hit by lightning. The man was in contact with the steel at the time and the structure has lightning protection. The man has survived with no injuries, but had an irregular heart beat (Thankfully making a full recovery!). What reasonable & practical measures can be taken to prevent this happening again?
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Posted By Robert.J
I may be able to show some light on the matter (no pun).
If the structure is/was protected from a potential strike then this is subject to an annual test for continuity and earth path resistance etc etc,and test cert issued.
So, was the system safe for working on? Was it maintained? Was there a technical requirement for an extension to the existing lightening protection. When was it last tested?
Secondly,
If the steel structure was an add-on and not "bonded" to the existing system then the "srtike" will take the easiest way to earth and not neccesarily through the protective copper or allumuniun tape to designated and marked earth pits.
I'm sure there are qualified lightening protection engineers out there who could comment on your scenario.
Regards
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Posted By Gareth Bryan
How about - not being so daft as to go on top of a high building when there is lightning present.
Or to put it in safety speak - the risk assessment should have taken into account the weather conditions
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Posted By Robert.J
Chris, how would you know if lightening is present?
Is there a lightening presence detector and a sign to say Lightening present DO NOT OPERATE?
Or a pre-dated risk assessment (that no-one reads)which had identified the weather conditions at the moment of the strike.
How many times does lightening strike in the UK and not forecast?
Im sure we'll be told ------very soon (the RAF are very good at forecasting though)
Regards
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Posted By steve e ashton
"The man has survived with no injuries, ..... What reasonable & practical measures can be taken to prevent this happening again?"
??? Try equipping all your roof workers with a couple of sticks of sweating dynamite. Then, if the electric shock doesn't kill them directly, there's a reasonable chance the explosive will be detonated, preventing them from surviving with no injuries....??
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Steve
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Posted By Andy Petrie
I carried out a study on lightning risk assessments last year and other than looking at the weather forcast there's not a lot you can do.
Most thunder/lightning storms can be oredicted, however there is one type which tends to occur on hot afternoons and there's not a lot you can do about this. Given the low risk involed (in term's of likliehood) the risks are ALARP.
Also bear in mind that you're not usually struck by lightning, it's the electromagnetic field which induced a current in your body, so even if you have adequate earthing nearby you can still feel the shock.
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Posted By Laurie
Many work areas, eg explosives, petrochemicals, are, affected by lightning risk. As the risk increases, as advised by the met office, work is progressively shut down, until for instance, at the stage when thunder is heard, work is suspended.
I worked with explosives for forty years and in reality only stopped work on less than half a dozen occasions.
This is a standard risk which can be assessed, and reduction measures implemented; like all risks you will never totally eliminate it
Laurie
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