The dangers of working in strong winds

Even when the summer months bring warm weather, it doesn’t necessarily mean working conditions outdoor are perfect. There’s always a chance that high temperatures will be accompanied by trouble, such as strong winds and/or heavy rain.

Working in strong winds is a dangerous proposition, as you never know when a gust will whip through the area and cause you trouble.

If you find yourself working in these conditions, here are some steps you can take to maintain your safety:

• Clean up your work site: For example, if there’s a lot of debris on the ground, clean it up so it doesn’t become a flying projectile when the wind begins to blow.
• Take caution when working at height: Working on a roof, ladder or scaffolding is difficult enough when conditions are perfect. But when the wind begins to blow, your safety is at risk. It’s a must to take extreme caution, such as by using all safety equipment, such as harnesses and rails, that are available to you.
• Take a break: Even though you have a job to do, there are times when it’s best to take a break and wait out a bad weather system. If you’re uncomfortable working in strong winds, take a short break in a sheltered area to see if conditions improve. It’ll slow you down a bit, but it’s better than taking a risk with your health.

Even if you have many years of experience working outdoors, strong winds can still catch you off-guard. And if that happens, the risk of an accident and subsequent injury is much higher.

Should you suffer a workplace accident as the result of inclement weather, do these five things:

• Assess your condition
• Report the incident to your supervisor
• Call for help or transport yourself for medical care (if possible)
• Work with your medical team to understand your prognosis
• File a workers’ compensation claim if you need to take time away from work

When you do these five things, you’ll feel better about your ability to obtain the benefits you deserve. If you receive a workers’ compensation denial letter, turn your attention to the appeals process and how to protect your legal rights.