During the summer months, if you work outside, you may find yourself in a situation where inclement weather sneaks up on you. If you are working outside you can be significantly impacted by the weather and in the summer storms often come out of nowhere. If you are caught in a storm it may lead you to an accident that could result in an injury that could become a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim.
Storms that whip up out of nowhere during the summer months can be difficult to predict and present great risks to those who are working outside. Often weather that comes up during the summer includes a thunder and lightning storm which presents more than just the typical dangers that come with a wind or rain storm. These storms present unique challenges to those who spend most of their summer days on the job site outside. Some of these challenges include the following;
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Lightning strikes. The most dangerous form of weather that can sneak up on you as you’re working outside during the summer are lightning strikes. This type of weather can be dangerous for anyone who is working outside, but especially for those that are working higher up off the ground like roofers and construction workers working on taller buildings. At the first sign of lightning, if you are working in one of these situations, you should immediately remove yourself from the situation and wait for the lightning to pass. A good rule of thumb is to wait 30-minutes after the final clap of lightning is seen before you get back to work.
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Rain. You may have heard the term deluge when it comes to a summer rain storm and that is often what you get when the rain starts coming down. Moisture in the air can quickly turn into torrential downpours which can lead to significant rainfall in a very short amount of time. Not only does rain make surfaces slick and dangerous it can also lead to flash flooding which could be dangerous for anyone who is working outside within reach of a river, stream or ocean. Those that work outside must take the danger that rain presents seriously because it can not only cause damage to property and the land around it, but it can also put workers who are caught in a storm in a precarious situation that could lead to injury or death.
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Wind. The final piece of an unexpected summer storm is wind. Winds that come along with summer storms can often be as strong as gusts from hurricanes and can be detrimental to those that are working outside. Getting caught in a windstorm can be a scary situation for anyone working outside. Those that are working on docks, or scaffolding or ladders are all susceptible to the dangers of a strong wind gust which come from an unexpected storm. Injuries that can result from the wind in a summer storm can be quite severe.
Working outside can be a wonderful thing when you get to enjoy the beautiful weather that spring and summer have to offer, but when the weather turns unexpectedly, your job can go from enjoyable to dangerous in a split second. An unexpected storm can lead to a situation that could put you at risk of an injury which may lead to a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim.
Injuries in the workplace happen all the time and can be quite serious. If you get injured you may need to speak with an attorney who is board certified in workers’ compensation claims here in Connecticut. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will speak with you about your situation and work with you to help protect your long-term interests.
