Product Overview

Summary: This SOP sets out a clear, practical framework for managing lightning risk at renewable energy facilities, including solar farms, wind farms and battery storage sites. It supports Australian WHS compliance by standardising how lightning threats are monitored, how plant is protected, and how workers are kept safe before, during and after storm events.

Lightning poses a significant and often underestimated risk to renewable facilities, where tall structures, expansive metal arrays, exposed locations and sensitive electronic systems are common. This Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured approach to protecting people and assets from lightning-related hazards across solar farms, wind farms, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and associated substations. It defines how to monitor weather conditions, trigger alarms, suspend work, protect plant and equipment, and safely resume operations once the threat has passed.

Beyond the immediate risk of electrocution, lightning can cause catastrophic equipment damage, arc flash events, fires, data loss and prolonged downtime. This SOP helps businesses translate complex technical and WHS requirements into simple, repeatable steps that frontline personnel can follow under pressure. It supports compliance with Australian WHS legislation and relevant electrical and lightning protection standards, while reducing ambiguity about who does what when storms approach. By implementing this procedure, organisations can demonstrate due diligence, minimise unplanned outages, and protect both workers and high‑value renewable assets from severe weather events.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of electric shock, arc flash and secondary fire events caused by lightning strikes on renewable assets.
• Ensure a consistent, site-wide response to lightning events through clearly defined triggers, roles and communication pathways.
• Protect high-value infrastructure such as inverters, transformers, turbines, tracking systems and BESS from lightning-induced damage and downtime.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS duties and relevant electrical and lightning protection standards during audits and incident investigations.
• Streamline training and onboarding by providing a clear, step-by-step reference for workers and contractors operating in storm-prone environments.

Who is this for?

• Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Renewable Energy Site Supervisors
• High Voltage (HV) Electricians
• Electrical Engineers
• Asset Managers
• Control Room Operators
• Field Technicians and Riggers
• Construction Project Managers (Renewables)
• Facilities and Estate Managers for Renewable Precincts

Hazards Addressed

• Direct lightning strikes to personnel working on exposed structures such as wind turbines, solar arrays and overhead lines
• Step and touch potentials around earthing systems, towers, structures and metallic plant during storm activity
• Indirect lightning surges entering via overhead lines, communications cabling and metallic services causing electric shock or equipment failure
• Arc flash and electrical fault events triggered by lightning-induced overvoltage or insulation breakdown
• Fire ignition in switchrooms, BESS enclosures, cable trenches or vegetation following lightning strikes
• Falling from height during rushed evacuations from turbines, platforms or elevated work areas when storms approach
• Manual handling and slip, trip and fall injuries during hurried site shutdowns or evacuations in deteriorating weather
• Psychological stress and reduced decision-making capacity in workers exposed to severe weather without clear procedures

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope – Application to solar farms, wind farms, BESS and associated infrastructure
• 2.0 References, Definitions and Abbreviations – Lightning terminology, storm categories, ALARP principles
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities – PCBU, Officers, WHS personnel, control room, supervisors, contractors and workers
• 4.0 Risk Assessment and Planning – Identification of lightning hazards, risk matrix, and site-specific controls
• 5.0 Lightning Detection and Monitoring – Weather services, on-site sensors, strike maps and alert systems
• 6.0 Lightning Alert Levels and Action Triggers – Clear thresholds (e.g. 30/30 rule, strike radius) and escalation steps
• 7.0 Pre-Storm Preparation – Securing plant, isolating equipment, work planning, and communication checks
• 8.0 Suspension of Work and Site Evacuation – Safe shutdown of turbines, PV arrays and BESS; muster points and access controls
• 9.0 Safe Behaviour During Storm Activity – Prohibited activities, safe refuges, vehicle use and restrictions on working at height
• 10.0 Protection of Electrical and Electronic Systems – Earthing, bonding, surge protection and isolation requirements (operational interface with design standards)
• 11.0 Recommencement of Work – Criteria, inspections, testing and authorisation to resume operations after storms
• 12.0 Emergency Response – Response to lightning strike incidents, first aid for electric shock and burns, rescue from height and fire response integration
• 13.0 Training, Competency and Induction – Required skills, toolbox talks, drills and contractor briefings
• 14.0 Documentation, Recordkeeping and Reporting – Logs of alerts, shutdowns, inspections, incidents and corrective actions
• 15.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Review – Periodic review of lightning protection systems and SOP effectiveness
• 16.0 Appendices – Sample lightning action flowcharts, checklists, risk assessment templates and communication scripts

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and harmonised state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice
• AS/NZS 1768:2021 Lightning protection
• AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical installations (Wiring Rules)
• AS/NZS 5033:2021 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays
• AS/NZS 2067:2016 Substations and high voltage installations exceeding 1 kV a.c.
• AS/NZS 1170.2:2021 Structural design actions – Wind actions
• AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk management – Guidelines