Lightning Safety When Working Outdoors
What outdoor workers and employers should do about lightning: when to stop work, where to shelter, what to avoid if caught outside, and how to write a lightning plan. Joint OSHA and NOAA guidance.
Source: OSHA. Not endorsed by OSHA or the U.S. Government.
Last checked against the source 2 October 2026
How to use this document
Who it's for: employers, supervisors and anyone who works outdoors, from roofers and farm crews to lifeguards.
How to read it: The introduction lists the jobs most at risk. Reducing lightning hazards when working outdoors covers checking forecasts, sheltering in buildings or vehicles, and staying put for 30 minutes after the last thunder. Emergency Action Plan lists what a written lightning protocol should include. If caught outside in a thunderstorm gives NOAA's list of what to avoid. The last pages cover OSHA rules and workers' rights.
Read alongside: Lightning Safety for You and Your Family · Lightning Safety Tips and Resources
What's in it
- Introduction
- Reducing Lightning Hazards When Working Outdoors
- Emergency Action Plan
- Lightning Safety Training
- Lightning Warning Systems
- If Caught Outside in a Thunderstorm
- OSHA Standards
- Helpful Resources
- Contact NOAA
- Contact OSHA
- Workers' Rights
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