Safety precautions to ensure safety from Lightening in rainy season?

I am posing a question and invite the forum members to discuss seriously.

What will be your answer if a student asks you the question noted below:

"I need your advice on safety precautions to ensure the safety of myself and my friends in the rainy season." In fact, recently lightning struck a neighbor, and his death was sudden. The local daily asked me for safety precautions to be published to create awareness among the public. I gave the write-up. It was published just below the report on the death of the man along with his photograph.

From the feedback received, I realized that we have to enlighten the public, especially the young ones, on safety precautions needed against lightning hazards.

Lightning cannot be prevented. It is a natural phenomenon. However, we can definitely take precautions and be safe from it. Let us have a fruitful discussion.

Learned Member Pillai has touched upon an important topic. Many people die in natural disasters, and the death toll is high. Most of these deaths can be avoided with due care. Here are some tips to avoid lightning strikes: seek shelter and avoid trees, avoid metal objects, plan ahead by avoiding high places like exposed mountain tops and areas beneath trees. Even electronic devices such as TVs need to be switched off and disconnected.

For those staying in flats, it is advisable to ask the housing society to fix lightning conductors and properly earth them.

Source: https://scroll.in/pulse/810598/light...s-be-prevented

Lightning strikes have been increasing in frequency and taking more lives than earlier. Some statistics in this article: Indian State Records 36,000 Lightning Strikes in 13 Hours | Time.

"More than 2,000 people have been killed from lightning strikes in India every year since 2005, according to government data. Compare that to the U.S., where the annual average death toll is closer to 27."

A significant number of males (89%) have been killed by lightning strikes compared to females (5%) and children (6%) in India, which is most likely due to the larger proportion of males working and moving outdoors in lonely conditions.

So it becomes essential for us to take all safety precautions to avoid getting struck by lightning.

Nothing is better than precaution. It is always good to stay inside when it is lightning. Do not take shelter under a tree or any steel poles. Do not come out of a car or bus while riding. Do not use any electrical or electronic devices that are improperly connected. Avoid taking a bath under a shower or from water taps while lightning is in your area.

Install lightning arresters in your building or working area. Make periodic checks of the earth and its earthing conductivity. Those who are working should, as far as possible, stop work where there is a chance of electrocution due to lightning and use rubber sole boots and hand gloves.

In this connection extract from Factories Act
(3) Protection against lighting.- Protection from lightning shall be provided for -
(a)building in which explosive or highly flammable substances are manufactured, used, handled or stored;
(b)storage tanks containing oils, paints, or other flammable liquids;
© grain elevators;
(d) buildings, tall chimneys or stacks where flammable gases, fumes, dust or lint are likely to be present;
(e)sub-station buildings and out-door transformers and switch yards.
(4)Precautions against ignition.- Wherever there is danger of fire explosion from accumulation of flammable or explosive substances in air -
(a)all electrical apparatus shall either be excluded from the area of risk or they shall be of such construction and so installed and maintained as to prevent the danger of their being a source of ignition;
(b)effective measures shall be adopted for prevention of accumulation of static charges to a dangerous extent;
©workers shall wear shoes without iron or steel nails or any other exposed ferrous materials which is likely to cause sparks by friction;
(d) smoking, lighting or carrying of matches, lighters or smoking materials shall be prohibited;
(e)transmission belts with iron fasteners shall not be used; and
Chapter IV .
....
MODEL RULES UNDER THE FACTORIES ACT, 1948 (Corrected upto 31-3-1987) .
. Chapter IV
34. SCHEDULE

Your question is more useful for others.

Precautions from Lightning when it strikes inside a home or large building, or inside an all-metal (not convertible) vehicle, are important. Here are some safety tips to consider during a lightning storm:

- Avoid using the telephone, except for emergencies.
- Do not stand underneath a natural lightning rod such as a tall, isolated tree.
- Avoid projecting above the surrounding landscape, as you would do if you were standing on a hilltop, in an open field, on the beach, or fishing from a small boat.
- Get out of and away from open water.
- Get away from tractors and other metal farm equipment.
- Get off of and away from motorcycles, scooters, golf carts, and bicycles.
- Put down golf clubs.
- Stay away from wire fences, clotheslines, metal pipes, rails, and other metallic paths which could carry lightning to you from some distance away.
- Avoid standing in small isolated sheds or other small structures in open areas.
- If you are in a forested area, seek shelter in a low area under a thick growth of small trees.
- In open areas, go to a low place such as a ravine or a valley.
- Be alert for flash floods.

Hope this information clarifies the safety measures to take during a lightning storm.

Dear Sir,

Thank you for initiating the discussion. I am not getting anything more apart from whatever is shared by other members. I think if a student can remember and execute this much, it would be a great deal. I would summarize below what one needs to do during a case of lightning.

In case of Indoor:
1. Avoid the use of all types of electrical equipment, including mobile phones.
2. Try to be in plastic/wooden furniture and possibly avoid contact with concrete floors and walls.

In case of Outdoor:
1. Take safe shelter if one is available nearby. Avoid seeking shelter in a car or other vehicles.
2. If no shelter is available, try to take a crouching position. The same is explained with a picture in this link: https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/q...ghtning-strike

Please share your insights on what vital actions one should know to keep oneself and others safe from lightning strikes.

Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you.

I am looking for the safety experts from the forum to comment on the subject. I brought in a student to ask the question. There is a specific reason behind it. The answer should be easy for even a student to grasp. Students are inquisitive. If you give them an answer, they will often ask for further clarification. Therefore, any answer provided to a student should be convincing.

For example, a shed is not safe whereas a building is considered safe. Is it safe or comparatively safer? What are the reasons for this distinction? How relevant are factory rules or the factories act for students?

Why does using a mobile phone become unsafe when it is not connected to a charging cord? Will using a telephone that is connected through a cord be safe during a lightning storm if it is an emergency call?

I hope we will have an engaging discussion.

Kesava Pillai

@Kesava Pillai,

Thank you for the simple yet powerful response, sir. I will write my inputs soon. I definitely need to study the topic more to come up with the simplest explanation. Only if you have a good grasp of the topic, can you explain it in very simple language.

In the meantime, I am looking forward to the involvement of other safety professionals in the discussion here.

Thanks and looking forward.

Lightning kills as many as 2,000 people worldwide every year. Hundreds more people are struck but survive, usually with lingering and debilitating symptoms. Here are some things you can do to avoid electrical storms and decrease your chances of getting struck.

Candy Store Online | Candy Shop Online | Shadani Group

Hi to all... Correct me if I am wrong.

Yes, it's very useful to know how to safeguard against lightning for each and every member.

First of all, lightning (Current) occurs due to the collision of clouds (positive and negatively charged particles). These charged particles travel to the ground level using the shortest possible route where there is less resistance, such as areas with tall building structures, tall trees, and open spaces. Nowadays, lightning arrestors are connected to the top of tall structures so that when lightning strikes, the device can divert the lightning safely into the ground. The basic understanding is that a lightning arrestor should be fixed at the top and connected to the ground using a proper cable or strip.

Lightning is an unexpected and unpredictable phenomenon that you can't control or predict. You can never be certain of what will happen when thunder roars. Therefore, it is essential to take precautions and avoid going out until the rain stops.

@Kesava Pillai,

I came across the enclosed Electrical Safety Handbook published by CEA. While going through it, I found the topic "Precautions Against Lightning - Page 33 to 36" and thought of sharing it here. This visit also led me to your YouTube channel. I'm really glad to see that.

Looking forward to staying connected. Thanks.