WorldWide Drilling Resource

WorldWide Drilling Resource ® is a proud member of this association. National Drilling Association Tel: 877-632-4748 Fax: 216-803-9900 www.nda4u.com 11 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® JULY 2014 Safety Spotlight: Lightning Safety by Scott Cosby There is mostly outside activity in the drilling industry, and being outside we must be aware of what is around us, especially during severe weather events! This month, we’ll examine lightning dur- ing thunderstorms, and the best tips to stay safe. The National Weather Service (NWS) mentions spring and early summer as the peak time for one of the nation’s deadliest weather phenomena: lightning. Though lightning strikes peak in summer, people are struck year-round. In the U. S., an average of 53 people are killed each year by lightning, and hundreds more are severely injured. This article is a good companion to my WWDR September 2010 article on weather safety. Lightning is described as a massive electrostatic discharge between the elec- trically charged regions within clouds, or between a cloud and the earth’s sur- face. The charged regions within the atmosphere temporarily equalize them- selves through a lightning flash, com- monly referred to as a strike if it hits an object on the ground. There are three primary types of lightning: 1. Cloud to itself (intra-cloud or IC) 2. Cloud to cloud (CC) 3. Cloud to the ground (CG) Although lightning is always accom- panied by thunder, distant lightning may be seen, but may be too far away for the thunder to be heard (source: Wikipedia). Some workers are at greater risk than others. People who work outdoors in open spaces, on or near tall objects, or with conductive materials such as metal, have a greater exposure to light- ning risks. Pay attention to the forecasts so you know what to expect during the day. When thunderstorms threaten, don't start anything you can't quickly stop. • Stay off and away from anything tall or high, including rooftops, scaf- folding, utility poles, and ladders. • Stay off and away from large equip- ment. • Do not touch materials or sur- faces that can conduct electricity, including metal scaffolding, metal equipment, utility lines, water, water pipes, and plumbing. If a coworker is struck by light- ning, after eminent danger has sub- sided, proceed with caution as victims do not car ry an electrical charge, are safe to touch, and need urgent medical attention. Cardiac arrest is the immediate cause of death for those who die. Call 9-1-1 and perform CPR (car- diopulmonary resuscitation) if the per- son is unresponsive or not breathing. Use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) if one is available. )' ) % ) ' # *# $ ' : &4)1*4 *18*4 : : &4)1*4 *18*4 : : &4)1*4 *18*4 : : &4)1*4 *18*4 % ( ) ' ) '%# : &4)1*4 *18*4 : : &4)1*4 *18*4 : : &4)1*4 *18*4 : &4)1*4 *18*4 : &4)1*4 *18*4 ' $ + *#&( $ )% ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : # #4-3/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : # #4-3/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : 24 : 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : -4 4-8* 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : # #4-3/*:>> ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : #4-3/*:>> > ! ! ;)4&7/-( 4276 703 ? ;)4&7/-( 4276 703 ? ;)4&7/-( 4276 703 ? '%*) *#& '#()'%$ $ % $ "% 6, "64**6 2(&,216&5 $" < 2745 &;5 & %**. = &: %&665 $" &1&)& 62 21)&; 4-)&; "** 274 %*' &+* 999 &4056421+0&(,-1* (20 0&-/ ))4*55 &0(- &4056421+0&(,-1* (20 * ") * *#&( : &52 73/*: ! ! : -/9*// 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : #4-3/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : 73/*: ! ! &4)1*4 *18*4 : 73/*: ! ! &52 : 73/*: ! ! Cosby cont’d on page 12.