FOX Environmental, Health & Safety

FOX Environmental, Health & Safety

FOX Environmental, Health & Safety > Lightning Protection Systems

Lightning Protection Systems

FOX Corporation personnel must observe lightning protection measures specified in this Procedure when working at any site that has a potential exposure to lightning.

1.0 SCOPE

FOX Corporation (FOX) requires the implementation of lightning protection whenever employees are exposed to a lightning hazard. This requirement applies to all facility maintenance operations, as well as all production activities, which occur when performing work for FOX. Exemptions from any requirement must be obtained from FOX’s Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Department prior to implementation.

2.0 Definitions

Electrical System Grounding: electrical power systems are grounded (connected to Earth) to limit the voltage induced by lightning, line surges, or unintentional contact by higher voltage lines.

Bonding: an electrical connection between an electrically conductive object and a component of a lightning protection system that is intended to significantly reduce potential differences created by lighting currents

Air Terminal:  a strike termination device that is a receptor for attachment of flashes to the lightning protection system and is listed for the purpose.

Competent Person: an individual capable of identifying existing and foreseeable hazards applicable to a specific operation or activity; and who has the responsibility/authority to take immediate corrective actions to eliminate them.

Lightning Protection System:  a complete system of strike termination devices, conductors (which could include conductive structural members), grounding electrodes, interconnecting conductors, surge protective devices and other connectors and fittings required to complete the system.

Safe Refuge Area:  any surface, whether horizontal or vertical, on which an employee walks or works, including, but not limited to, floors, roofs, ramps, bridges, runways, formwork and concrete reinforcing steel, but not including ladders, vehicles, or trailers, on which employees must be positioned to perform their job
duties.

3.0 Responsibilities

In addition to required Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Program responsibilities discussed in EHS001, EHS Policy, the responsibilities described below are necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the procedure.

3.1 Department Heads

Department Heads will:

  1. Ensure that all employees are aware of and follow FOX’s lightning protection requirements while performing their work in inclement weather
  2. Ensure all FOX employee’s are in appropriate SRAs during inclement weather

3.2 Employees

All FOX employees will observe the location-specific lightning protection requirements and performance specifications in Section 4.0.

3.3 Environmental, Health and Safety Department

The EHS Department will:

  1. Develop appropriate standards for lightning protection in all FOX activities
  2. Review and update this Procedure annually or as necessary to comply with regulatory changes.

4.0 Procedure

Acceptable lightning protection systems required for each type of work area is specified in Section 4.1.

4.1 Use of Lightning Protection System

Lightning Protection Systems will be installed on television compounds or areas of temporary structures if it is desired to be used as a Safe Refuge Area (SRA).

Conditions for a lightning protection system:

  1. Fabric structures that have a fabric or earth floor shall have a ground loop conductor
  2. Lightning protection systems on fabric structures will consist of 1/8 inch (3mm) thick metal framing to be used as main size conductors.
  3. Fabric structures that have electrically continuous metal around the perimeter of the structure shall be permitted to be used as the ground loop conductor if it is at least 1/8 inches thick.
  4. Fabric structures that have a fabric or earth floor shall have a minimum of two radial grounding electrodes installed at opposing corners.
  5. Fabric structures that have a fabric or earth floor shall have at least one radial electrode for every 60ft (18m) of protected perimeter of portion thereof.

Grounding systems shall be installed to mitigate the threat of step potential. Fabric structures that have a fabric of earth floor shall have a ground loop
conductor.

If work operations are planned that are not addressed below, the EHS Department must be contacted for guidance prior to initiating the activity.

4.1.1 Catering Tents and Temporary Structures

Catering tents or temporary structures that do not have a lightning protection system may not be used as an SRA during inclement weather.

4.2.1 General Requirements

The following requirements will be applied to all Safe Refuge Areas

  1. All FOX personnel in potential inclement weather must be aware of weather alerts and seek shelter in a designate Safe Refuge Area when lightning is within an 8 mile radius.
  2. Use of undesignated Safe Refuge Area is prohibited.

4.3 Employee Training

All employees exposed to inclement weather must be trained to recognize lightning hazards and procedures to minimize the hazards.

5.0 REFERENCES

NFPA 780

6.0 ATTACHMENTS

None