Although summer is winding down, temperatures remain high and continued heat waves are still possible throughout New York. Continued vigilance is essential to prevent work-related heat injuries. Employers and employees need to know of the many dangers associated with heat-related illnesses, as excessive heat can cause serious health issues and can even be fatal for workers under some circumstances. It is the job of employers to make sure that workers stay safe when working outside and in other hot environments; however, employees should also know best practices for safety in order to protect themselves.
If a heat-related illness occurs, the affected worker should contact a New York workers’ compensation law firm. Workers should be entitled to have their medical bills for treating heat-related health problems covered by workers’ compensation and affected workers should also be compensated for loss of work as well, if their heat-related injuries necessitate missing time from their jobs.
Risks of Heat-Related Illnesses and Injuries
Safety BLR reported on several tragic cases in which workers have been sickened or killed on-the-job by heat-related problems. For example, a planing mill worker had to be given emergency aid when a co-worker noticed he was acting and walking strangely. The employee was transferred to a medical center, but died of his heat-related health issues. In another case, a masonry worker was outside in 91-degree heat with no protective measures taken by his employer, while yet another death involved a sawmill worker who died when his temperature reached 108 degrees.
Preventing tragic incidents like this one requires vigilance when it comes to heat safety. OSHA provides five key pieces of advice to reduce the risks of problems with heat-related illness on the job. These include:
- Drinking water every 15 minutes, even if you are not thirsty when working in a hot environment.
- Taking frequent rest breaks in the shade in order to cool down.
- Wearing light-colored clothing and wearing a light-colored hat.
- Knowing what the signs of heat-stress are and understanding the appropriate response to heat stress in an emergency situation.
- Monitoring fellow workers for signs of problems.
According to Safety BLR, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration indicates the agency has become increasingly aggressive in taking action against employers who fail to provide protection from heat. OSHA has cited and fined employers under Section 5(A)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. This section is the General Duty Clause used by OSHA to fine companies that do not take common sense precautions to protect employees as they complete their work.
Hopefully, with OSHA cracking down, companies will take heat-related problems more seriously and injuries can be prevented as summer comes to an end. Unfortunately, in many cases, OSHA doesn’t become involved and fine or cite companies until after someone has gotten sick or been killed. If an injury does happen, consulting with Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff is key to getting costs covered and to getting appropriate benefits. Contact an attorney for help as soon as possible when heat-related problems arise.
