The harsh winter months are here and for many outdoor workers, such as construction workers, it can be brutal as well as incredibly dangerous if certain precautions are not followed. Hopefully, you work for an employer that recognizes the dangers of the extreme cold and takes them seriously, but this is not the case for everyone.
Below are several tips for recognizing and preventing cold work injuries.
Symptoms of Cold Hazard Injuries
These symptoms could indicate that your health is suffering because of the outdoor temperatures:
- Dizziness
- Numb limbs
- Confusion
- Limbs become very hard to the touch
- Blisters
Common Cold Hazard Injuries
The most common injuries that result due to extreme temperatures are as follows:
- Frostbite is when ice crystals form on various limbs of your body. Sometimes it is so dangerous that you may have to have the affected area amputated.
- Trench foot can occur in temperatures as high as 60 degrees if your foot remains continually wet. The skin tissue may die, resulting in this particular injury.
- Hypothermia can occur when your body heat is lost much quicker than it can be replaced. This generally occurs in very cold temperatures, but can happen in higher temps when a person has become chilled from wet conditions.
Preventing Cold-Related Harm
What precautions can be taken to prevent these types of cold hazardous work injuries? Here’s how you can start:
- Dress in multiple layers
- Take frequent breaks
- Have a designated shelter away from the harsh conditions
- Wear insulated waterproof boots and gloves
- Drink sweetened liquids
- Wear proper headgear to protect from the cold
If you have experienced a personal injury at work due to the harsh weather conditions and your employer is not cooperating, you may need to contact a personal injury and workers’ compensation attorney near you.
Continue learning about workers’ compensation and injury in our knowledge center.