How workers can stay safe when it’s cold

Connecticut workers often have to put up with cold or wet conditions. When a person’s body temperature drops to 95 degrees, a person is said to have contracted hypothermia. If a person is not able to get warm, it could result in significant injury or death. Frostbite occurs when tissue is frozen, and amputation may be necessary in some cases. Poor circulation or improper clothing choices can increase the risk of frostbite.

Employers can reduce the chances that their employees develop such conditions by insisting that they dress properly. They should also teach employees how to spot the signs of cold stress. These signs may include numbness or skin that becomes increasingly red over time. Employers should also make sure that their workers are given the opportunity to come inside or otherwise get warm during their shifts, and they should seek medical assistance as soon as possible in the event of an injury.

People should work in pairs when they find themselves in this type of environment. In that way, there will be someone to call for assistance in the event of a cold-weather injury.

Despite all safety precautions, however, workplace injuries or illnesses will continue to happen. Most Connecticut employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage for the benefit of their employees. The benefits that are available under that are generally provided regardless of fault. However, the acceptance of these benefits in most cases will preclude a lawsuit against an employer, even when safety protocols have been blatantly flouted. People who have been injured as a result of being put at risk by their employer may thus want to discuss their situation with an attorney.

And in particular, a Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation law.