How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 33 severe cases involving weather and atmospheric conditions between 2015 and 2025. The most common injury type is effects of electric current, which accounts for 58% of all reported incidents. These injuries are often catastrophic, requiring you to seek immediate hospitalization for cardiac issues or severe electrical burns.
Because these events often involve high-voltage electricity or blunt force from falling ice, you may suffer from long-term neurological damage or complex musculoskeletal injuries that require extensive medical intervention.
How these injuries happen
Injuries from weather and atmospheric conditions occur when environmental forces interact with your work. Direct exposure to electricity from lightning strikes is the leading cause, often occurring when you work outdoors or near conductive equipment. Other common scenarios involve being struck by falling ice from building canopies or suffering overexertion while you attempt to clear snow and ice from work vehicles or job sites.
| Cause | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Direct exposure to electricity | 16 |
| 2 | Struck by falling object | 6 |
| 3 | Multiple types of overexertion while moving or manipulating external object(s) | 3 |
| 4 | Indirect exposure to electricity | 2 |
| 5 | Struck by propelled object or substance | 2 |
| 6 | Contact with cold objects or substances | 1 |
| 7 | Exposure to electricity— unspecified | 1 |
| 8 | Overexertion while moving or manipulating external object(s)— unspecified | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Construction leads all sectors with 27% of reported incidents, as you are frequently exposed to outdoor elements while operating at heights or in open areas. Transportation and warehousing follows at 18%, where you face high risks from lightning and icy surfaces while moving between buildings and vehicles.
Real cases like yours
Reported incidents often follow a pattern of sudden, unpredictable exposure during routine tasks like walking between buildings or operating outdoor equipment. Many workers report being struck by lightning while performing duties near power lines or while simply transitioning across a job site. If your injury occurred while you were performing work duties during hazardous weather, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident to determine if your employer failed to provide a safe environment.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | FL | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was walking from the office to a truck when he was struck by lightning. The employee suffered burns to his hand and foot, as well as a heart arrhythmia. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2024 | CO | Construction | "An employee was preparing to begin work on the job site when ice fell from the canopy above and struck the employee on the head. The employee sustained a head injury." | |
| 2024 | MO | Utilities | "An employee stringing up power lines was shocked by the line they were holding when lightning struck near by." | |
| 2024 | FL | Accommodation & Food Services | "An employee was directing guest traffic when lightning struck the ground 600 feet away. The employee felt a shock to her left arm and experienced numbness. The employee was hospitalized." | |
| 2024 | AR | Manufacturing | "On January 18, 2024, at 11:15 AM, an employee was delivering feed to a chicken farm when their truck became stuck in snow and ice. The employee manually dug out the snow from around the tires, applied tire chains, and was able to drive to the main road. At the main road the employee removed the chains and drove to the mill. Upon arrival at the mill and walking to the office, the employee experienced chest pain and was hospitalized for a heart attack." | |
| 2023 | PA | Transportation & Warehousing | "An employee was hooking up a trailer when they were struck by lightening. The employee sustained burns to the back and hands." | |
| 2023 | FL | Construction | "An employee was doing masonry work on the ninth floor of a building that was under construction when they were struck by lighting. The employee experienced severe chest pains." | |
| 2022 | OK | Construction | "An employee was struck by lightning while walking through the yard of a home under construction. The employee suffered severe internal and chest burns and was hospitalized." | |
| 2022 | NY | Retail Trade | "An employee was removing snow from an entryway when snow and ice fell from the roof, striking the employee in the head and face area resulting in injury." | |
| 2022 | NH | Accommodation & Food Services | "While an employee was helping out on the sales lot, ice and snow got into his shoe. The employee was hospitalized with frostbite on his foot." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, injuries sustained from lightning strikes while you perform work duties are generally covered by Workers' Compensation. Because the injury occurred during the course of your employment, you are entitled to medical benefits and wage replacement regardless of fault. An attorney can help you document the incident and ensure your claim is processed correctly.
Employers have a legal duty to maintain safe premises, which includes clearing ice and snow from walkways and work areas. If your employer failed to address known hazards or forced you to work in dangerous conditions, you may have a strong case for compensation. An attorney can help you evaluate whether your employer met their safety obligations.
Seek immediate medical attention and report the injury to your supervisor as soon as possible. Ensure you document the exact circumstances of the weather event and how it related to your work tasks. Consulting with an attorney early can help you preserve evidence and protect your rights to full benefits.
While some weather events are unpredictable, OSHA expects employers to monitor conditions and implement safety protocols for outdoor workers. This includes suspending work during lightning storms or ensuring paths are cleared of ice. An attorney can help you determine if your employer ignored safety standards that could have prevented your injury.