Summertime is just around the corner, which means hot temperatures will be here soon. If you will be working outside in hot and humid weather, you should take precautions to avoid developing heat illness.
Heat illness has a variety of symptoms which can vary in severity. It can include anything from a skin rash to a heat stroke, which can be life-threatening. Although it is your employer’s responsibility to ensure that you are safe on the job, it is wise to educate yourself on how to prevent heat illness. In fact, you may want to ask your employer to review a copy of the company’s heat illness prevention program, if they have one (which is recommended by OSHA).
To help prevent heat illness, you should drink water, take breaks in the shade and wear attire that is appropriate for your job and the weather (preferably light in color and breathable). If you are not used to working in the heat, you should ease into it. Even if you do not feel thirsty, you should regularly drink water and avoid becoming dehydrated.
A few of the common symptoms of heat illness are a feeling of light-headedness, dizziness, profuse sweating and nausea. If you or a co-worker begins experiencing these symptoms, it can be a dangerous situation and you should take immediate steps to get help. You should get out of the sun and into a shady or air-conditioned area. Drink lots of water. If the symptoms do not subside, seek medical attention.
If you suffer heat illness, you may need to take some time off from work to recover. Don’t add stress of lost wages and how you will pay the medical bills to an already difficult situation. Let us help you file a workers’ compensation claim.
A workplace injury can involve a complex array of legal options. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help guide you through this tricky process. The attorneys of Murphy & Garner, LLC, have over 32 years of experience serving clients in western Georgia and the surrounding area. We will fight for your rights and get you the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation at 866-942-0552 or 678-563-1584.
