It’s no surprise that summers are hot, but recent summers have reached a startling level of dangerous heat due to climate change. According to World Meteorological Association data from late-June and early-July, the Earth just experienced the hottest week on record. Heat waves across the globe are intensifying which poses a serious health risk to humans. In the United States, cities like Phoenix have seen nearly three weeks of 110-degree days. Not only is this hot, it’s inhabitable and makes working conditions unbearable.
In Georgia, we haven’t experienced quite the level of heat as Phoenix, China, and the Middle East, but our high temperatures still pose a grave danger. With a continuously-warming subtropical, humid climate our peak-temperatures often exceed 95-degrees with heat indexes measuring triple-digits. This extreme weather presents substantial risks for any outdoor workers, such as those in construction, landscape, or public works.
For these workers and others, heat-related illnesses are caused by prolonged or intense exposure to hot temperatures. Our body is naturally designed to cool itself down, but extreme heat prevents this function as it causes blood to rush to the surface of your skin. In turn, less blood reaches your brain, muscles, and other important organs—interfering with both physical and mental capacity.
Despite the known risks, heat-related occupational accidents remain a problem in the United States, with 43 fatalities reported in 2019. There is currently no national heat standard and, while several states have recently adopted heat safety regulations, others are resisting legislative changes.
At Poirier Law Firm, we firmly believe workers who succumb to a heat-related illness are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Contact our team as soon as possible to construct a case to confirm your rights.
Types of heat-related illnesses
Heat stroke: Your body can no longer regulate its core temperature. The worker will stop sweating and become confused, often losing consciousness or having a seizure. This is the most dangerous heat-related illness. Call 911 immediately if you suspect you or a coworker is experiencing a heat stroke.
Heat exhaustion: Your body experiences fatigue due to a lack of hydration and salt from significant sweating. Individuals will experience dizziness, headache, weakness, thirst, and nausea.
Heat rash: Your skin gets irritated from the sweat that stays on the skin and fails to evaporate. It is often called “prickly heat” and is the most common problem workers experience in hot environments.
Heat cramps: Your body physically contracts due to losing salt and fluid from heavy sweating. Workers experience fatigued muscles and painful cramps. They will feel the cramps in the muscles they most commonly use for working but it does not just happen while they are working. They may feel the painful cramping after they leave work.
Dehydration: As seen in the above scenarios, dehydration is the common cause of all heat-related accidents. It is essential to drink more than enough water and take breaks when necessary if you work in an industry that requires you to be in the heat.
Solar Radiation: Staying out of direct sunlight is also essential to avoid UV exposure. Too much solar radiation can result in serious health consequences such as skin cancer, cataracts, and other life-threatening/impacting injuries.
Prevention is paramount
Heat-related illnesses are preventable. Employers are responsible for training workers on the hazards of heat exposure and prevention of overheating. Employers must provide a safe working environment for their workers—no matter if it is indoors or outdoors. Those in charge should emphasize the following standards for avoiding heat-related illnesses or death:
- Slowly acclimate to heat
- Drink plenty of water before starting work
- Continuously drink water throughout the day
- Do not consume sugar or alcohol
- Wear sunscreen and reapply as needed
- Take frequent breaks indoor with air-conditioning to cool off
- Monitor coworkers for signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses
If your job places you in high-risk for suffering from heat-related illnesses, your main priority should be to ensure your health and well-being while on the job. While personal responsibility is important, employers are also responsible in ensuring their employees have access to safe working conditions, especially if the workplace environment poses a potentially dangerous threat, such as extreme heat.
Working with a workers’ compensation attorney is always your best bet in developing a compelling case and understanding what rights you have as an injured worker. If you are suffering from an injury or illness that can be connected to working outside during the summer, you likely have grounds to file for workers’ compensation. Contact Poirier Law Firm today for more information about filing a claim for a heat-related injury and remember to stay cool!