Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner which means the unofficial start of summer is upon us. While we still have a long way to go before the sizzling and sweltering heat of the dog days, temperatures are already hitting highs that pose potential risks for workers. In this blog, we take a look at new research that measures the impact of heat on workplace injury occurrence and severity.
Last week, the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) hosted their Annual Insights Symposium. Among the events, Anae Myers and Patrick Coate presented their ideas on workplace injuries during the seminar: Challenges for Today’s Worker—The Big Three Physical Space | Mental Health | Environmental Impact. This report names the three most important variables in determining the impact and severity of workplace injury as: weather, mental health, and physical space.
Specifically, Myers and Coate point to excessive temperatures as a significant factor in on-the-job injury occurrence and severity. “Our new NCCI research shows worker injuries increase by as much as 10% on very hot days as well as on wet and freezing days compared to mild weather,” Coate said. “High temperatures impact construction and other outdoor workers most, while cold and wet weather leads to a lot more slip and fall injuries.”
These findings are consistent with previous studies that show likelihood of on-the-job worker injury significantly increases with extreme heat. Instances and effects are heightened throughout the southern U.S. and in the construction industry. As stated in previous reports, “When compared to a 65 to 70 degree day, days when the temperature rises above 90 see a 5.4 percent increase, and days where the temperature rises above 100 see a 6.1 percent increase in injury incidences.”
The report continues, “For workers in the South, that likelihood rises to 9 percent for a 90-95 degree day and 11 percent for a 95 degree or higher day. The research found that in the Northeast, workplace injury incidences are actually less likely when the temperature goes above 100.” This is especially pertinent for Georgia workers who primarily perform outside, in unairconditioned attics, or other unprotected environments.
Learn more about heat-related illness from a previous Poirier Law Firm blog. 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!