Heat-Related Injuries on the Job

Heat-Related Injuries on the Job

There are several different kinds of injuries that can come from being exposed to too much heat. An umbrella term to describe these injuries is “heat stress.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that heat stress can result in many different occupational illnesses and injuries. If you suffer a heat-related injury on the job, you should speak with a Montgomery workers’ compensation lawyer right away. 

Common Heat-Related Injuries in the Workplace

Some examples of jobs that are high risk for heat-related injuries include: 

• Construction workers
• Farmers
• Indoor factory workers
• Restaurant kitchen workers

More specifically, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat rash, and heat cramps can be experienced by anyone who works outdoors - or in very high-temperature indoor areas - for long periods of time.

Heat Rash

Heat rash happens when there is too much sweat trapped underneath the skin and commonly occurs when workers are exposed to muggy, hot areas for extended periods.

According to the Mayo Clinic, when adults have layers of clothing that rub the skin excessively, then those parts of the body can easily develop a heat rash. This is especially true if the person is in direct sunlight for large portions of the day.

Heat Cramps

These can be experienced by workers who do a large amount of heavy lifting in hot weather, or if they are suddenly exposed to working in a hot environment that their body isn’t accustomed to being in.

Heat cramps can be very painful, and the exact cause of them isn’t quite known. But, experts report that this condition can be linked to a heat-related chemical imbalance that causes muscle(s) to become cramped and uncomfortable when and if a person loses a lot of sweat, which itself contains large amounts of sodium.

Heat Exhaustion

If a person has been working in the heat for a long while and suddenly they appear to stop sweating, this is a sign of oncoming heat exhaustion. Sweating is what actually cools our bodies down, and when a person becomes dehydrated, they don’t have the electrolytes they need to continue perspiring.

Heat Stroke

Sometimes confused with heat exhaustion, heat stroke is a more serious condition that needs medical attention immediately. This is when a person has been out in the heat so long that their body can’t regulate its own temperature. Being able to recognize the symptoms (increased heart rate, fainting, nausea, vomiting, and bodily weakness) could mean the difference between life and death.

No matter what type of heat-related injury you suffer at work, if you need medical care, you deserve workers’ compensation benefits. Obtaining benefits for a heat-related condition can be more complicated than you might think, and the right legal help is important. 

Call Your Montgomery Workers’ Compensation Attorney 

Employers should take steps to protect workers from heat stroke and other serious medical conditions. If you need medical care or time away from work due to heat stroke or a similar condition, contact the Law Office of Richard F. Matthews, Jr. Our Montgomery workers’ comp lawyer is ready to help.