Added Risks for Workers Toiling Under the Sun
Every occupation carries its own types of risks and possible injuries, particularly those involving manual labor and the use of heavy machinery. However, in the peak of summer when record high temperatures combine with a suffocating humidity, employees left to work outdoors in the stifling heat face a new and dangerous work hazard. Heat-related injuries and death account for thousands of hospitalizations every year, many of which require the counsel of an Orlando workers compensation attorney. Although heat exhaustion can be easily prevented with proper diligence, neglectful employers will sometimes put their workers at risk and suffer serious consequences.
Dangerous Jobs Made More Dangerous
The symptoms of dehydration and heat exhaustion cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and confusion. The resulting muscle weakness, cramps, and spasms can cause a worker to become clumsy and dangerously disoriented. Often by the time such symptoms are noticeable, an immense risk of injury already exists. An experienced workers compensation attorney in Orlando will point out the employer’s responsibility to closely monitor the well-being of workers during high temperatures.
The most dangerous summertime occupations include:
Roofers – The risk of falls and accidents is substantially higher during summer months. - Road Crews – Many road crews work at night to avoid intense daytime heat, but now face the added risk of negligent drivers.
- Farmers
- Landscapers
- Construction Workers
A busy tourist season also contributes to a few of these dangerous work hazards. Heavy traffic and dense crowds of distracted visitors are a common problem when working outdoors.
Orlando Workers Compensation Attorney for Injured Minors
Many teens will find seasonal work during the summer months in a variety of industries, including those listed above. Studies report that a teenage worker is killed on the job in the United States every 14 days. A workplace injury to a minor occurs every 9 minutes. One such cause for this unfortunate statistic is that employers will allow younger and more active employees to take on the more challenging tasks, resulting in added risk to the well-being of minors.
To dissuade such negligence, the state of Florida specifies added compensation benefits for injured workers under the age of 19. A partial or permanent disability is significantly more costly when the victim is a minor. Always consult immediately with a workers compensation attorney in Orlando if your son or daughter is injured during a summer job.
OSHA Safety Prevention and Standards
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) leads an annual preventative program specifically targeted towards outdoor laborers working in extreme summer heat. Regulation standards require that employers provide adequate drinking water, shade, and reasonable breaks to rest from work in the sun. It is the duty of the supervisor to remain aware of when workers are in of respite and to formally post a plan to treating and preventing heat-related illnesses. Every knowledgeable worker’s compensation attorney in Orlando is prepared to build a case in response to summer injuries and heat-related illnesses.
