Can Cold Weather Cause Compensable Work Injuries?
Many different kinds of workers in Maryland must work outdoors in extreme temperatures or conditions, and many other workers have duties that require them to be outdoors and subject to the hazards associated with cold weather in the winter or high heat in the summer. If you were injured at your workplace and cold weather was the major reason or at least a causal factor, can you be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits? In short, the answer is yes. Our Maryland work injury attorneys can provide you with more information about how these types of injuries occur and what you will need to do in order to obtain compensation.
Winter Weather and Injuries in the Workplace
Winter weather in North America can result in work injuries in various ways. In some circumstances, workers are subject to hazards associated with occasional outdoor duties, such as slips and falls on the ice. In other circumstances and industries, workers spend all or the majority of their time outdoors and can be affected by cold stress. Some workers may also have underlying conditions such as hypertension or hypothyroidism or diabetes that can be exacerbated by continuous exposure to cold temperatures, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Common cold-related injuries and illnesses among workers include but are not limited to the following, according to OSHA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Hypothermia;
- Frostbite;
- Trench foot;
- Chilblains;
- Cold stress;
- Exacerbation of underlying conditions;
- Traffic crashes due to ice or poor visibility among delivery drivers; and
- Slips and falls due to ice.
Types of Jobs Where Winter Weather Poses Hazards
The following are common jobs and industries where winter weather can pose injury risks:
- Construction;
- Warehousing;
- Delivery drivers’ work;
- Baggage handling and other outdoor airline work; and
- Roofers.
Whether you were injured due to cold weather in one of the above jobs or in another type of work, you will need to show that your injury or work-related illness arose out of and occurred in the course of your work in order to be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. To learn more about your eligibility and whether you meet the requirements, you should seek advice from a Maryland workers’ compensation lawyer who can help.
Contact a Maryland Workers’ Compensation Attorney for Help with Your Cold Weather Work Injury Claim
Were you recently injured on the job due to cold weather factors, or in an accident in which cold weather was a causal factor? If so, you may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits by filing a claim in Maryland. Whether you slipped and fell on an icy patch or you experienced a condition such as chilblains due to extensive time working outdoors, one of the experienced Maryland workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC can discuss the details of your case with you today and can help you to move forward with a claim. Contact our firm for more information about how we can help you to seek financial compensation for your work injury.
Sources:
cdc.gov/niosh/cold-stress/about/related-illness.html
osha.gov/winter-weather/cold-stress
