Major lightning storm here and it's shaking the buildings. Virtually no delay between lightning and thunder. Asked if we were pulling all the employees off the lines (we're a manufacturing facility that is largely outside and in open bays) and they said no.
I'm starting a new job in two weeks, and my last day is tomorrow. In my time here I was never able to make any headway on getting management to make safety a priority.
I'm not looking for revenge, I just didn't want any employees to die today.
If you're an employee and you hear thunder, get into a fully enclosed, plumbed and wired building immediately. If you can't, get in your vehicle. Don't return to outside work until 30 minutes last the last time you heard thunder. Don't seek safety under porches, sheds, or other partial structures. Don't lean against concrete walls that may contain rebar. For more information, look up “OSHA Lightning”. This is especially important in areas that don't get a lot of lightning, because supervisors may have forgotten the safety plan, if they even have one in the first place.
If you work dispersed, make sure your employer has a system to contact you in an emergency – whether that's your cell phone, a walkie, or a PA.
Look up your state's safety complaint line and call it if your safety concerns are not taken seriously. In WA, you can file anonymously.
Safety should always be the #1 priority. Period.