Working In the Heat
Extreme heat means air conditioning, ice cream, water parks, and . . . an increase in work injuries. According to The New York Times, the data suggest that heat increases workplace injuries by making it harder to concentrate, leading to injuries from falling, being struck by vehicles or mishandling machinery.
The data suggests that when the temperature was between 85 degrees and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, researchers found that the risk of workplace injuries was 5 to 7 percent higher than days where the temperature was in the 60s. Even more alarming, when the temperature exceeds 100 degrees, the overall risk of injuries was 10 to 15 percent greater.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) concludes that workers become overheated from two primary sources: (1) the environmental conditions in which the employees work and (2) the internal heat generated by physical labor. Heat-related illnesses occur when the body is not able to lose enough heat to balance the heat generated by physical work and external heat sources.
OSHA provides the following protective measures:
- Drink water often (about 4 cups/hour).
- Take frequent breaks in a cool, shaded area.
- Limit physical exertion.
- Adjust work activities.
- Watch/communicate with workers at all times.
Arising Out of and In the Course of Employment
Workers who suffer heat related injuries and illnesses may be able to recover workers’ compensation benefits. Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, in order to receive workers’ compensation benefits, an employee does not need to show that the employer is at fault. Rather, the person filing the claim needs to have been an employee at the time of the injury, and the injury needs to have arisen out of and in the course of employment.
Call Capron Avgerinos & Heinlen
Call Capron Avgerinos & Heinlen now at (855) 208-3904 if you need help with a workers’ compensation case in Illinois or Iowa. As your Illinois and Iowa Injury Network, we are ready to assist you over the phone or in person. We perform our cases on a contingent fee basis, which means we are not paid unless you recover compensation for your clam. Call Capron Avgerinos & Heinlen and let us show how we can deliver results for you.
