How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 33 severe cases involving weather and atmospheric conditions over the past decade. The most frequent injury nature is effects of electric current, which accounts for 58% of these reported incidents.
You may face long-term health complications, including heart arrhythmias and severe internal trauma, requiring extensive medical intervention and time away from work. An attorney can help you navigate your claim and secure the benefits you deserve.
Struck by lightning or ice? Check what benefits you may be owed.
Check My BenefitsHow these injuries happen
Injuries from weather and atmospheric conditions typically occur when environmental forces overwhelm safety measures. Direct exposure to electricity is the leading cause, often occurring when lightning strikes near you or your equipment. Other common scenarios include being struck by falling ice from structures or suffering overexertion while attempting to clear snow or navigate hazardous, frozen terrain during your work duties.
| 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
OSHA leads all sectors with 27% of reported weather-related incidents. You are uniquely vulnerable in this industry because you perform essential tasks outdoors regardless of changing conditions, often without adequate shelter or protection from lightning and falling ice. Transportation and warehousing follow, as you face constant exposure to unpredictable environmental hazards while moving between buildings and vehicles.
Real cases like yours
Reports frequently describe you being struck by lightning while performing outdoor duties or suffering heart-related emergencies after physically demanding tasks in extreme cold. These incidents often involve a lack of adequate warning systems or failure to pause operations during severe weather alerts. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you review the specifics of your incident.
| 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.