Palm Beach Gardens Workers Comp Lawyer

One of the most popular reasons why people choose to live in Florida is because of the warm weather we enjoy for most of the year. While many of our friends in other parts of the country suffer through cold and frigid winters, rainy and damp springtimes, and other seasonal weather conditions, residents here can attest to why we are called the Sunshine State. However, that also means that during the summer months, the heat here can create dangerous work conditions for people who are employed in certain types of occupations. A Palm Beach Gardens workers comp lawyer knows that overexposure to hot weather can result in serious injury to a worker or even cause their death.

Each year dozens of work-related fatalities occur because of heat exposure. Employers have a legal duty to protect their workers from overexposure to heat and if they fail to do so, the injured worker may be able to obtain financial compensation. If you have suffered an illness or injury because of heat exposure, call Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt to find out how we can help.

What types of occupations are at risk for heat exposure injuries?

There are many different occupations that are at risk for suffering heat exposure that can lead to serious illness or injury. Some of the more common outdoor jobs that face daily risk of this hazard include:

•       Agricultural and farm workers
•       Construction workers
•       Landscapers
•       Mail and parcel delivery people
•       Oil and gas well workers
•       Road workers
•       Roofers

A Palm Beach Gardens workers comp lawyer also works with injured workers who have suffered heat-related injuries. Many indoor workers also face a high risk of suffering from heat exposure when the thermometer spikes. While they may not be exposed to the hot sun, the raised temperatures from outside cause the interior temperatures – which are often higher than in other occupations – to increase to potentially dangerous levels. These occupations include:

•       Bakery workers
•       Certain manufacturing/warehouse workers
•       Electrical utility workers
•       Firefighters
•       Restaurant kitchen workers

What are some of the health conditions workers can suffer because of high-temperature exposure?

Under normal circumstances, the human body regulates its own temperature by getting rid of excess heat by sweating. However, if the temperature is too high, the body cannot dissipate its internal heat, and this is when a person can begin to experience symptoms of heatstroke or other illnesses. Some of the most common that workers experience includes the following:

•       Heat rash and cramps: One of the first signs a person may have that indicates that they are on their way to overexposure is a heat rash. These small red bumps often develop because of excess sweating. The excessive loss of water and salt from that sweating can also cause the person to begin suffering from cramps.
•       Heat exhaustion: When a person loses too much water and/or salt, their temperature begins to rise, they develop a bad headache, begin feeling irritable, feel weak, and develop nausea and/or vomiting.
•       Heat stroke: Heat stroke is the most severe form of a heat illness. When the person’s body is unable to lower its internal temperature, it can be fatal. The person may begin suffering from confusion and dizziness. They may lose consciousness and/or suffer seizures. Body temperature will be very high. Emergency medical treatment is crucial, or the person may die.

Let Us Help

If you are a worker who has suffered serious injury from a heat illness, contact Franks, Koenig & Neuwelt to schedule a free consultation with a skilled Palm Beach Gardens workers comp lawyer.