Thunderstorm Safety Toolbox Talk

Thunderstorms can move in fast and create serious hazards on a jobsite. Lightning, heavy rain, strong wind, slippery surfaces, poor visibility, and flying debris can put workers at risk in just a few minutes.

This talk focuses on how to recognize thunderstorm danger, secure the work area, protect the crew, and know when to stop work before conditions become unsafe.

Why This Matters

• Lightning can strike miles away from the center of a storm, even before heavy rain starts.
• Wet ladders, scaffolds, roofs, decking, and equipment steps can become slick quickly.
• High winds can move materials, tip unsecured items, and make lifts or crane work unsafe.
• Poor visibility can increase the chance of struck-by incidents around equipment and traffic.
• Water can collect in low spots, trenches, and unfinished areas, creating drowning, collapse, or electrical hazards.

Common Hazards

• Working on roofs, ladders, scaffolds, steel, or elevated platforms during lightning activity.
• Using cranes, boom lifts, scissor lifts, forklifts, or telehandlers in high wind or low visibility.
• Standing near metal fencing, rebar, pipe, guardrails, equipment, or temporary power during lightning.
• Walking through standing water that may hide holes, cords, tools, sharp debris, or energized equipment.
• Loose plywood, insulation, roofing material, trash, forms, and small tools becoming airborne.
• Storm drains, ditches, trenches, or low areas filling with water faster than expected.

Safety Checklist

Before Work Begins

• Check the weather forecast and know the chance of thunderstorms for the shift.
• Identify safe shelter locations such as permanent buildings or enclosed vehicles.
• Review how the crew will be notified if storms approach.
• Secure loose materials, trash, tarps, cylinders, ladders, and tools before bad weather hits.
• Keep electrical cords, tools, and temporary power off wet ground where possible.
• Make sure excavations, low areas, and drainage paths are inspected if storms are expected.

During Work

• Stop elevated work when lightning is seen, thunder is heard, or winds make footing unstable.
• Lower and secure aerial lifts, crane booms, material hoists, and suspended loads when directed.
• Move away from open areas, tall objects, metal materials, water, and temporary fencing.
• Do not take shelter under trees, unfinished steel, open sheds, scaffolds, or equipment booms.
• Watch for changing conditions such as dark clouds, sudden wind shifts, heavy rain, or nearby thunder.
• Stay out of flooded areas until they are checked for electrical, fall, and ground stability hazards.

Crew Talking Points

• Where is our nearest safe shelter today?
• How will we communicate if thunder or lightning is noticed?
• What materials or tools need to be secured before the storm gets here?
• Which tasks should stop first if the wind picks up?
• Are there any low spots, trenches, roof areas, or electrical setups that need extra attention?
• Speak up right away if you see lightning, hear thunder, notice rising water, or have a concern about the weather.

Stop Work If

• Lightning is seen or thunder is heard near the site.
• Wind affects balance, lifts materials, or makes equipment operation unsafe.
• Heavy rain reduces visibility or makes walking and working surfaces slippery.
• Water begins entering trenches, excavations, electrical areas, or enclosed spaces.
• Loads, equipment, scaffolds, ladders, or temporary structures cannot be safely controlled.
• The foreman, safety lead, or general contractor calls a weather delay or evacuation.

Final Reminder

No task is worth getting caught in lightning, high wind, or flooding. Watch the weather, secure the site early, and get to safe shelter before the storm is overhead.