Safety share - Lightning

strike on drill rig - Serbia

RTX Region: AER
Date: 14th Aug 2018
Background information
• During the day shift there was very hot weather
and weather forecast predicted storm.
• By 17:30 There was visible change in weather with
heavy clouds coming from northwest.
• Drill crew had lightning detector ready and started
to monitor strikes.
• By 18:30 drillers finished drilling and were
preparing the drill site for handover to night shift.
• When storm came closer (nearest lightning strike
was registered at 38 km distance) from drill site,
drill crew switched off the rig and auxiliary
equipment and hide in shelters (office shack and
vehicle).
• 18:50 night shift arrived and stayed in the vehicle,
as people were informed to stay there and wait

© Rio Tinto 2017

 3

Summary of Incident (Near miss)

Lightning struck drill rig mast
• 19:10 lightning struck the top of the rig mast
• At that time there was no understanding if
lightning struck the rig or ground nearby - flash
was bright, so nobody saw the exact strike place
• Day shift crew wait till 19:50 when the storm
passed and left night shift crew at site
• Than night shift crew wait till heavy rain finished,
started rig preparation for drilling and discovered
that the rig was automatically switching off 15
secs after each switch on
• After several attempts drillers isolated the rig,
informed their supervisor and decided to wait till
the morning
• Next day there was discovered small part of
amber light cap from the top of the mast laying
near the mud pit and latter it was identified that
all electric equipment on top or the mast and two
electrical/hydraulic transmitters are destroyed

© Rio Tinto 2017

 4

Actions taken
• The incident was discussed with the team
during next toolbox meeting
• Drill crew and supervisors were congratulated
for following the procedure
• Safety share was prepared and shared with
RTM group
• Drill rig diagnostic and repair completed

© Rio Tinto 2017