One of the summer objectives of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is to make sure that employees are safe while working outside. This is why OSHA created an initiative aimed at providing information about safety measures for avoiding work injuries due to heat and lightning hazards. North Carolina employers may wish to put these measures into practice so that their outside workers remain safe.
According to research conducted by OSHA, people who work outdoors are one of the four segments of the population who are most vulnerable to severe heat. The agency also discovered that in 2014 alone, 2,630 workers fell ill from extreme heat and 18 were killed by heatstroke.
In order to avoid such occurrences, OSHA has asked employers to provide their employees with regular breaks, easy access to water, and respite from the heat. The agency uses the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather-Ready Nation project to increase the reach of its heat safety message.
Lightning also poses a danger for outside workers, and an information bulletin produced by OSHA and NOAA classifies lightning as an occupational hazard. Some of the precautions employers are advised to take include staying updated on weather developments when arranging outdoor work schedules. NOAA states that employers should also give employees prior notification of shelter sites, which should include buildings that have plumbing and electrical wiring for grounding.
Lightning and high temperatures are just a few of the weather conditions that can pose as hazards for individuals who have to work outside. An individual who has suffered a work-related injury may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. A lawyer might be able to assist with the claims process.
