All conveyors are prone to lightning strikes and therefore the conveyor and the operating and maintenance staff will require protection from damage or injury.

Earthing and other applicable protection standards need to be installed and adhered to. The conveyor belt protection system shall be electrically isolated from the control system and all other control networks in accordance with the requirements of SANS 10313 or BS 6651. Any equipment or devices that are required to be directly connected to the control system shall be earthed to an acceptable minimum standard.

Underground conveyors are earthed and electrically supplied from cables normally installed in the shaft or through boreholes, allowing an electrical lightning path to the underground conveyor.

Lightning within the operational area needs to be monitored as such that systems can be shut down in the event of danger levels reaching pre-determined limits.