Home › Generator › Lightning Risk Assessment
Lightning Risk Assessment — Instant AI Calculator for UK Outdoor Events
Every outdoor event in the UK requires a written lightning risk assessment. Describe your event, location and duration — we calculate risk using BS EN 62305 methodology and produce a complete, regulation-referenced assessment with evacuation procedures, monitoring protocols and safe shelter guidance in minutes. £29, delivered as PDF and Word doc.
Used by event organisers, festival producers, construction managers and sports facilities across the UK
⚡ Multi-day festival or high-attendance event? Mention expected crowd size and duration — the assessment will recommend dedicated lightning detection services, trained weather monitors, and specific evacuation trigger criteria aligned with the Purple Guide (Guide to Health, Safety and Welfare at Music and Similar Events).
Legal requirements for lightning risk assessment in the UK
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Regulation 3) place a legal duty on event organisers and employers to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for all work activities and public events. For outdoor activities, this explicitly includes assessing the risk from adverse weather, including thunderstorms and lightning strikes.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires that event organisers take all reasonably practicable steps to protect attendees, staff and contractors. Lightning is a foreseeable hazard at outdoor events in the UK — the Met Office records an average of 300,000 lightning strikes annually, with peak activity from May to September coinciding with the outdoor event season. A written risk assessment demonstrating that you have considered lightning risk and implemented control measures is essential legal protection.
For licensed outdoor events, the Purple Guide (the industry standard for music festivals and similar events) explicitly requires a lightning risk assessment. Local authorities and licensing committees expect to see documented procedures for weather monitoring, evacuation trigger criteria, and safe shelter provision. Without this, your event licence may be refused or revoked.
The British Standard BS EN 62305 (Protection Against Lightning) provides a technical methodology for assessing lightning risk to structures and people. Anyrisks applies this methodology to calculate site-specific risk levels and recommend proportionate control measures based on event duration, location exposure, and regional lightning frequency data.
How it works
1. Describe your event
Tell us the event type (festival, sports fixture, wedding, construction project), location (county or postcode), duration, expected attendance, and site features (open field, near trees, proximity to tall structures). If you have existing shelter or plan to provide marquees, mention this and we will assess their suitability.
2. AI calculates risk
Anyrisks applies BS EN 62305 methodology to assess your site exposure, regional lightning frequency, and event duration. The AI risk assessment generator produces a fully written lightning risk assessment with site-specific control measures, evacuation procedures, and monitoring requirements.
3. Download and use
Download as PDF and editable Word document. Submit to your local authority licensing team, include in your event safety plan, or hand to your insurer. £29, no subscription, money-back guarantee within 24 hours.
What it covers
Every lightning risk assessment is written in full — covering all aspects of weather monitoring, evacuation and safe shelter for outdoor events.
Site-specific lightning risk level calculation using BS EN 62305
Regional lightning frequency data (keraunic level) for your location
Safe shelter identification — buildings, hard-topped vehicles, unsafe structures
Evacuation trigger criteria and 30-30 rule implementation
Weather monitoring protocols — Met Office warnings, visual/audible monitoring
Lightning detection service recommendations for high-risk events
Trained personnel requirements — who monitors, who decides to evacuate
Communication procedures — PA announcements, steward briefings, attendee information
Vulnerable groups — children, outdoor workers on scaffolding, marquee occupants
Post-storm procedures — when to resume activities, all-clear criteria
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 compliance
Purple Guide alignment for licensed outdoor events
Event postponement and cancellation criteria based on forecast risk
Insurance and liability protection through documented risk management
Works for
From school sports days to multi-day music festivals, Anyrisks covers every type of outdoor event and activity in the UK.
What customers say
"We run a three-day country show every August and the council wanted to see our lightning risk assessment before approving the licence. Anyrisks covered everything — evacuation procedures, 30-30 rule, safe shelter zones. Accepted first time."
Claire Matthews
Event organiser, Shropshire
"I organise school sports days across the South East. Every head teacher now wants a lightning risk assessment on file. Anyrisks gives me a professional document specific to each site in minutes — saves me hours every summer term."
David Pritchard
Sports coordinator, Surrey
"We do outdoor weddings in marquees from May to September. Insurance company asked for lightning risk assessments after a claim last year. Anyrisks covered monitoring, evacuation to the main house, and post-storm procedures. Exactly what we needed."
Rebecca Foster
Venue manager, Cotswolds
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Site-specific risk calculation using BS EN 62305 | ✓ | ✗ |
| Regional lightning frequency data included | ✓ | ✗ |
| 30-30 rule and evacuation procedures written in full | ✓ | ✗ |
| Safe shelter identification for your site | ✓ | ✗ |
| Weather monitoring protocols (Met Office, visual/audible) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Purple Guide alignment for licensed events | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 3 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
What UK regulations require a lightning risk assessment for outdoor events?
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Regulation 3) require employers and event organisers to assess all foreseeable risks, including lightning strikes. For outdoor events, festivals, sports fixtures and construction sites, this means a written lightning risk assessment is mandatory where people may be exposed to thunderstorm activity.
How do I calculate lightning risk for my event?
Anyrisks uses a methodology aligned with BS EN 62305 (Protection Against Lightning) to assess site exposure, expected attendance duration, proximity to tall structures, and regional lightning frequency. You describe the event type, location, duration and site features — the assessment calculates risk level and produces specific control measures including evacuation procedures and weather monitoring requirements.
Do I need a lightning detector or Met Office contract?
Not necessarily. The risk assessment will recommend appropriate monitoring based on event duration and risk level. For single-day events, free Met Office warnings and visual/audible monitoring (30-30 rule) may be sufficient. Multi-day festivals or high-risk events may require a dedicated lightning detection service or local weather monitoring equipment.
What is the 30-30 rule and should I include it?
The 30-30 rule is a widely recognised lightning safety protocol: if the time between a lightning flash and thunder is 30 seconds or less, lightning is within 6 miles and you should seek shelter immediately. Remain sheltered for 30 minutes after the last thunder. Anyrisks includes this guidance in outdoor event assessments and recommends trained personnel to implement it.
Does it cover evacuation procedures and safe shelter zones?
Yes. The assessment identifies safe shelter locations (buildings with lightning protection, hard-topped vehicles), unsafe locations (tents, open structures, trees), and evacuation trigger criteria. For events without adequate shelter, the assessment will recommend postponement or cancellation protocols based on forecast risk.
Can I use this for construction sites and sports fixtures as well as festivals?
Absolutely. Lightning risk assessments apply to any outdoor activity where people are exposed for extended periods. This includes construction sites (scaffolding and cranes increase risk), school sports days, outdoor training, agricultural shows, weddings in marquees, and commercial filming. Describe the activity and site and the assessment will be tailored accordingly.
Also see: The Ultimate Guide to Risk Assessment · Do I Need a Risk Assessment? · Risk Assessment Legal Requirements · Risk Assessment Generator