Lightning Strikes and Kills Worker

A ranch employee at the University of Idaho was struck by lightning and killed while riding a horse to drive cattle. The worker was Michael Haslett of Salmon, Idaho. He was 37-years-old. The strike was witnessed by two other people who were herding cattle at the ranch.

Iowa ranks 23^rd of all states in the U.S. for lightning strikes causing death and 24^th for injury related lightning strikes.

Employees who are killed or injured from lighting while at work would be covered under Iowa's workers' compensation program. There is no indication in this news story whether or not this employee's widow or dependent children would be covered. Laws vary from state to state and workers' compensation programs differ greatly. The reason why there is coverage has to do with the work exposing the employee to special risks or hazards of the particular employment. In this instance a ranch hand is exposed to risks associated with inclement weather, animals and other environmental exposures. The employer benefits from the employees working under such conditions and is better able to spread the cost of such risks to customers.

I wrote this two days ago, then today noticed a news article from Tiffin, Iowa about a teenager working on a laptop computer while at home who was in the house when it was struck by lightning. The house is located at 283 Woodfield Drive in Tiffin. The lightning struck the house at around 3:20 p.m. while he was in the basement. Apparently when the house was struck so was he; although I wonder if the house's electrical grid wasn't itself energized sending a jolt through to him. No smoke, flames or fire were reported. The boy is said to be alright and not to have suffered life threatening injuries. See Tiffin Teenager Struck by Lightning at Home, KCRG, Channel 9, ABC

According to NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS SR-193, Section 4, worldwide it appears the odds are 1:3000 although as you can see from Mr. Sullivan a persons work environment may substantially raise the odds. Also Virginia is noted to have between 35 and 45 thunderstorms every year especially in june through August.  that 10,000 people are killed each year by lightning. In the United States 90 people are struck and killed. The risk is 1 in 28,500. Wyoming has the highest casualty rate per capita. On December 8, 1963 81 people died when lightning struck a Boeing 707 jetliner near Elkton, Maryland. According to Wikipedia Roy Cleveland Sullivan, a United States forest ranger is reported to have been struck by lightning on seven different occasions. He was later referred to as the nickname "The Human Lightning Rod".

The Seven Lightning Strikes
1942: First Strike - Sullivan was hit for the first time when he was hiding from a thunderstorm while hiding in a fire lookout tower. The lightning bolt struck him in a leg and he lost a nail on his big toe.

1969: Second Strike - The second bolt hit him in his truck when he was driving on a mountain road, the bolt bounced off a nearby tree and came into his open window.  It knocked him unconscious and burned his eyebrows and hair.

1970: Third Strike - The third strike struck him while standing in his front yard when it struck a transformer and burned his left shoulder.

1972: Fourth Strike - The next hit happened in a ranger station. The strike set his hair on fire. After that, he began to carry a pitcher of water with him.

August 7, 1973: Fifth Strike - A lightning bolt hit Sullivan on the head, blasted him out of his car, and again set his hair on fire.

June 5, 1974: Sixth Strike - Sullivan was struck by the sixth bolt in a campground, injuring his ankle.

June 25, 1977: Seventh Strike - The seventh and final lightning bolt hit him when he was fishing. Sullivan was hospitalized for burns in his chest and stomach.

Roy Sullivan shot himself on September 28, 1983, reputedly over a rejected love.

Two of his ranger hats are on display at two Guinness World Exhibit Halls in New York City and South Carolina.

Apparently he was struck at a very early age but because he was unable to prove it he didn't claim it. His wife was also struck while hanging clothes in the back yard. He happened to be helping her at the time but escaped without injury.

TABLE 21. Average population, and rate/million people/year of lightning-caused fatalities, injuries, casualties (fatalities and injuries combined), and damage reports for all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico from 1959 to 1994. Population is average of decennial census values from 1960 to 1990.
State	Average population	Fatality rate		Injury rate		Casualty rate		Damage rate
	[1000s]	Rate	Rank	Rate	Rank	Rate	Rank	Rate	Rank
Alabama	3,660	0.64	24	1.60	23	2.23	22	2.18	34
Alaska	369	0	52	0	52	0	52	0.23	50
Arizona	2,364	0.69	19	1.23	30	1.93	26	0.99	44
Arkansas	2,086	1.46	3	3.26	4	4.73	4	7.67	7
California	22,275	0.03	49	0.07	51	0.10	50	0.07	51
Colorado	2,536	1.04	6	3.24	5	4.28	5	3.42	21
Connecticut	2,990	0.12	45	0.70	42	0.82	44	2.50	29
Delaware	564	0.74	17	1.33	27	2.07	24	4.09	17
District of Columbia	691	0.20	44	0.89	37	0.92	41	0.56	45
Florida	8,605	1.10	4	3.80	3	4.91	3	1.45	40
Georgia	5,119	0.44	28	1.79	17	2.23	23	3.56	19
Hawaii	869	0	51	0.10	49	0.10	51	0.45	46
Idaho	833	0.67	22	2.23	13	2.90	13	10.17	4
Illinois	11,011	0.21	42	0.69	43	0.91	43	1.04	43
Indiana	5,223	0.39	29	0.87	38	1.26	37	1.86	35
Iowa	2,818	0.64	23	1.60	24	2.24	21	5.71	13
Kansas	2,317	0.67	20	2.13	15	2.80	14	14.17	2
Kentucky	3,401	0.67	21	1.63	21	2.30	20	4.62	16
Louisiana	3,830	0.83	9	1.65	19	2.48	17	2.28	32
Maine	1,078	0.57	25	2.68	6	3.25	8	6.52	11
Maryland	4,005	0.80	12	0.94	36	1.74	29	3.16	23
Massachusetts	5,648	0.12	47	1.63	22	1.75	28	2.97	25
Michigan	8,813	0.28	37	2.03	16	2.31	19	2.57	28
Minnesota	3,918	0.38	30	0.84	39	1.21	38	2.88	26
Mississippi	2,372	1.04	5	2.42	7	3.47	6	2.40	30
Missouri	4,758	0.46	27	0.54	44	1.00	40	1.48	38
Montana	739	0.75	15	1.65	20	2.41	18	3.31	22
Nebraska	1,511	0.75	16	1.27	28	2.02	25	11.36	3
Nevada	694	0.24	40	0.52	45	0.76	45	0.44	47
New Hampshire	844	0.26	38	2.24	12	2.50	16	6.78	10
New Jersey	7,082	0.22	41	0.49	46	0.71	46	0.38	49
New Mexico	1,200	1.88	1	3.89	2	5.76	2	1.25	41
New York	17,642	0.20	43	0.71	41	0.91	42	1.58	37
North Carolina	5,535	0.84	8	2.32	10	3.16	<p style="text Labels: Commentary death employee injury lawyer legal Lightning Lombardi strike worker workers' compensation After a worker is injured is when they need the support of their employer the most. But injured workers aren't given a level playing field. The company doctor often times is not helping them and the case manager isn't either. The worker is left alone to fend for themselves and to make mistakes that result in lower benefits or fewer weeks of benefits. Some are sent back to work too soon. There is only one person on your side and that understands this system. If your lawyer doesn't understand the nature of this claim you've got the wrong lawyer.  Steve Lombardi has practiced in the area of workers compensation for over 30 years. He's tried hundreds of cases for more than one thousand clients. If you'd like help finding a competent lawyer we do assist people in locating a lawyer in Iowa or in Illinois.  Call us. If you have a question about your case, give us a call or drop us an email. LOMBARDI LAW FIRM - 515-222-1110 or sdlombardi@aol.com. If you or your spouse are involved in a work accident contact the Lombardi Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim. Share This Page » Tweet There are no comments. Post a comment Post a Comment to "Lightning Strikes and Kills Worker" To reply to this message, enter your reply in the box labeled "Message", hit "Post Message." Name:* Email:* (will not be published) Website: Message: Notify me of follow-up comments via email. For security purposes, please enter the graphic text in the box below: [hit F5 if you can not read the text] Quick Contact Name * Phone * Email * Tell us more * Lombardi Law Firm 1300 37th Street, Suite 6 West Des Moines, IA 50266 Phone: 515-222-1110 Toll Free: 800-383-0331 Get Directions Search www.lombardilaw.com Web News Construction worker hurt suffered a head injury... Posted on 2/5/2012 Another construction worker dies; this one from falling materials... Posted on 10/31/2011 Wind Turbine Workers Will be Heading to Pomeroy... Posted on 9/4/2011 Construction Zone Accidents Can Be Deadly... Posted on 8/28/2011 Roll-over Protection, or ROPS, is a safety tool... Posted on 8/28/2011 Wind Turbine Worker Falls to His Death... Posted on 8/28/2011 Weekly Toll News for June 30, 2011... Posted on 7/6/2011 More Medicare Changes... Posted on 6/21/2011 Rehabilitating Older Iowa Workers After a Work Injury... Posted on 6/17/2011 Using a torch to melt ice caused explosion... Posted on 2/4/2011 Will the clerk at Kum & Go in Ankeny get fired?... Posted on 1/26/2011 Another construction worker dies at Univ. of Iowa... Posted on 1/26/2011 Worker awarded $21 million for work related accident... Posted on 1/26/2011 Pella Mill Worker Falls From Crane in Pella... Posted on 1/26/2011 Coralville, Iowa Wastewater-site Explosion is investigated by DNR... Posted on 12/28/2010 Electrocution At Work - US Postal Service... Posted on 12/10/2010 He’ll have a workers’ compensation claim out of Iowa... Posted on 11/26/2010 Utah Driver Has Both a 3rd Party Car and Workers' Comp Claim... Posted on 11/26/2010 F-350 Ford pickup truck dies when a collision happens with a 2003 Frei... Posted on 11/26/2010 Titan Workers Electrocuted, Was Lock-out-tag-out being used?... Posted on 8/17/2010 view all Resources Workers' Compensation Iowa Workers' Compensation The Workwear Store OSHA on Sodium Hydroxide view all Videos Workers' Compensation: Sodium Hydroxide Iowa Work Place Safety for Workers Injured and Entitled to Workers Compensation What happens when a train and semi-tractor trailer truck collide? more FAQs Workers' Compensation What can I do if I was hurt at work and my employer has not helped me yet? I got hurt at work over a month ago and I am in need to get a MRI and the company keeps putting it off. They did not turn it in to workman's compensation and I need to see what's wrong. I am having a lot of pain. What can I do? What can I do if worker's compensation won't communicate with my attorney? I slipped and fell at work on the school bus steps. I hurt my back and the xray and MRI says I'm fine but I can't function and I am in constant pain. The doctor says I have lower lumbar pain and my left sciatic nerve is giving me problems. I went to physical therapy but workers comp only approved 12 visits. I have a list of restrictions. Workers compensation won't approve my 2nd opinion on my back and won't approve any more therapy and they just started pay me but they are under paying me. On January 13th, I would have been off work for 3 months. I have an 11 month old child and due to non payment from workers comp I lost my apartment and my lights and water got cut off. I had to pull my child out of daycare. My job won’t let my come back unless I am free from restrictions and free from doctors’ care. If I do a settlement case with my job and workers comp how much do you think I'll get? Because I am so far in debt and now I have to go to court over the apartment I just lost. and yes i do have a lawyer but it seems as if he can’t do anything either. workers comp wont communicate with him or email back they won’t correct my amount or back pay me so I'm like what do I have a lawyer for again? Can I sue my employer if I was injured at work after several months?  I got hurt while working at a company. They treated me for tendinitis and kept me working under lifting restrictions. Seven months later they found an almost 2 inch tear in my rotater cuff. I had surgery then physical therapy for 5 months. After about 3 months of progress at PT I started having severe pain. I returned to the doctor and was put on an anti-inflammatory. I am still currently taking them. A few months prior to having or even knowing about the surgery, I had plans to move closer to family. I had asked my job if my injury would affect my transfer, I was told 'no not at all' they even helped me put in the transfer request. I recently made the move from Pennsylvania to Nebraska. I am now being told that I am non-transferable. I have been with this company for over 3 years, had an excellent annual evaluation, and did everything they asked up until the move. Due to the continuous inflammation and pain, I'm unable to do previous jobs or personal tasks. Do I have a case? Could I sue for continued medical care or a settlement? more Home Practice About Us FAQ News Attorney Toolbox Client ToolBox Testimonials Resources Contact Us Disclaimer The determination of the need for legal services and the choice of a lawyer are extremely important decisions and should not be based solely upon advertisements, certification, specialization or self-proclaimed expertise. A description or indication of limitation of practice does not mean that any agency or board has certified such lawyers as specialist or expert in an indicated field of law practice nor does it mean that such lawyer is necessarily any more expert or competent than any other lawyer. All potential clients are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any lawyer being considered. These disclosures are required by the Supreme Court of Iowa.This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. ©2012 Lombardi Law Firm, All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission Privacy Policy Attorney web design by Foster Web Marketing, the best attorney website design solution on the Web offering search engine optimization for attorneys, lawyer website design, video for attorneys, and more. Get SEO Tips from The Attorney Internet Marketing Blog