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How to protect yourself from work-related injuries
Summer is coming, and that means more time outdoors. Work-related injuries increase as warm weather approaches us.
We are all counting down till the days of all-day pool parties and cook-outs in the evenings while a bonfire blares in the backyard. Naturally we are more enthusiastic about fun in the sun, but on the other spectrum of things comes work in the sun. Workers are often exposed to the potential hazards and risks of spending continuous hours in the outdoor elements.
Many workers will endure long hours outside trying to complete tasks that were unattainable during the winter months. Summer injuries on the job don’t come to mind, but they are in fact very common.
Here’s what to do if your workers’ compensation claim gets denied.
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Top 5 summer work-related injuries:
Hyperthermia
When the body heats up fast and does not have the resources to cool down quickly enough, workers can be at risk for sun or heat stroke. Also being exposed to extremes temperatures too long can quickly cause a heat-related illness. Be cautious! Even if workers are outside for short periods of time, you are still at risk for serious health problems.
According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 7,415 deaths due to heat-related illness in the United States from 1999 to 2010, or an average of approximately 618 death per year.
Symptoms of heat-related illness:
- Elevated Body Temperature
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Muscle cramps
- Fainting
- Seizures
- Most Extreme Cases Coma
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when serious amounts of water are lost from the body, or not enough water is being consumed by the body.
The most recognized reason a worker will become dehydrated is excessive sweating. The body can lose significant amounts of water in the form of sweat when it tries to cool itself. A work-injury can be brought on quickly due to the body’s temperature trying to cool dramatically through the act of sweating.
Skin/Conditions Cancer
Doing physical labor in the sun for lengthen periods of time can lead to too much sun exposure on the skin. Work-related injuries can come in the form of severe burns and even more chronic forms, cancer.
Sunburn is a condition that occurs on the skin when ultraviolet light from the sun exceeds the body’s natural ability (melanin) to protect itself.
Symptoms of a sunburn include painful, reddened skin; however, sunburn may not appear immediately. By the time, you can see the effects of a burn the damage has already been done. An extreme trauma can result in swelling and blisters, and even worse cases people may develop a fever, chills, and weakness. In most extreme cases people can go into shock.
Machine/Vehicle Accidents
During the summer months, there is an increase in road construction sites that lead to an increase in work-related injuries. Various reasons for injuries and deaths are related to hit by passing motorist or receiving injuries from on-site work machinery.
Slips, Trips, and Falls
Work-related injuries due to slips and falls can happen at any given time; however, slips and fall cases seem to accumulate more during the summer months.
Falls, broken bones, and head injuries often occur in outdoor locations, including road construction sites and tree trimming projects. Stumbling over outdoor elements or construction site materials often end in serious work-related injuries as well.
These basic tips can help keep you out of the waiting room for the upcoming summer months. Stay hydrated, be mindful of exposure to the harsh sun, protect your skin, and be aware of your surroundings. It may seem like common sense, but work-related injuries remain on the rise.
If you were injured on the job, whether it was a minor incident or major accident our staff at the Brown Firm can assist you today. Contact our Georgia’s worker’s compensation attorneys today to discuss your legal options. We will make sure your rights are protected, and your claims are correctly filed.
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