Severe Weather Awareness Safety

Key Hazards

Lightning, high winds, hail, or stormy conditions.

Workers caught outdoors during fast-moving storms.

Flying debris from wind or damaged structures.

Poor visibility from heavy rain, dust, or darkness.

Flooding or standing water around work areas and access roads.

Delayed communication during emergency weather changes.

Severe weather can develop quickly and create hazards for outdoor crews, drivers, maintenance workers, and emergency responders. Waiting too long to react can leave workers exposed with little time to reach shelter.

Weather conditions should be monitored before and during outdoor work. Forecasts, alerts, radar, radio communication, and visible changes in the sky can all help crews recognize when conditions are becoming unsafe.

Lightning, high winds, hail, heavy rain, flooding, and sudden temperature changes should all be taken seriously. Severe weather does not have to be directly overhead to create risk.

Workers should know where to go before severe weather arrives. A substantial building, approved shelter area, or enclosed vehicle may be needed depending on the hazard.

High winds can turn loose materials, signs, tools, trash cans, ladders, and temporary structures into flying debris. Crews should secure materials when weather is expected to worsen

Heavy rain can reduce visibility, create slick surfaces, flood low areas, and hide hazards such as holes, curbs, debris, or damaged pavement.

Severe weather awareness is about acting early. Stopping work before conditions become dangerous is better than trying to move workers to safety after the storm has already reached the job site.

Safety Reminders

Monitor weather before and during outdoor work.

Know where shelter is located.

Stop all outdoor task early when severe weather approaches

If not safe to drive, initiate your Hazard Lights when driving and reduce your speed or better to park in a safe place until the severe weather conditions subsides

Secure loose materials before high winds arrive

Avoid flooded areas and standing water.

Communicate weather alerts to the entire crew.

Do not return to job site until conditions are safe.