If you hear thunder or see lightning but it appears to be 8 miles away, do you need to cease operations?

If you hear thunder or see lightning but it appears to be 8 miles away, do you need to cease operations?

• A. No
• B. Only if wind > 35 mph
• C. Yes
• D. Only if within 50 feet of powerline

Answer: (C)

Lightning danger is present as soon as you hear thunder or see lightning, and distance doesn’t guarantee safety. A crane is a tall, conductive structure that can be struck by lightning even when the storm seems far away; eight miles can still be within striking distance, and the risk can persist for a while as the storm moves. The safest action is to cease crane operations and seek proper shelter, then wait until at least 30 minutes have passed since the last thunder or lightning before resuming. Relying on wind speed or proximity to power lines isn’t the determining factor here—the hazard comes from lightning itself and the need to protect workers and equipment.