Dangers of Heat Stroke for Construction Workers
June 28, 2016
Summer is coming and along with it comes the blazing sun, high temperatures and high humidity that characterize Pennsylvania weather. Workers such as construction workers, surveyors, landscapers, window washers and painters whose duties are performed outdoors often end up spending long hours in extreme temperatures during those dog days of summer heat waves. Employers whose workers must spend long hours in the sun on hot days must make sure that their workers are protected from and know how to prevent the dangers of heat stress, which can cause severe illness and even death. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has information about protecting yourself from heat-related illnesses when you must work outdoors all day in the hot sun.What are the symptoms of heat-related illness?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has the following information for workers at risk for heat-related illnesses. Some of the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
- Heavy sweating
- Weakness
- Cold, pale and clammy skin
- Fast, weak pulse
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fainting
If you have symptoms of heat stroke, the CDC recommends that you:
- Find a cooler location
- Lie down and loosen your clothing
- Apply cool, wet cloths to as much of your body as possible
- Sip water
- If vomiting, seek medical attention as soon as possible
Symptoms of heat stroke include:
- Body temperature above 103 degrees
- Hot, red, dry or moist skin
- Rapid and strong pulse
- Possible unconsciousness
If someone is showing signs of heat stroke, call 911 immediately. Move the person to a cooler environment and out of the sun. Reduce the patient’s body temperature with cool cloths or a bath. Do NOT give fluids.
Heat stroke is a medical emergency, and if it is not treated right away it can lead to permanent disability and possible death.
A worker who suffers from a heat-related illness in Philadelphia may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if they are unable to work. If their claim is approved, they will receive a disability payment which replaces a portion of their regular income, and it pays for all medical expenses incurred from the occupational illness or injury.
An experienced Philadelphia workers’ compensation attorney from the law office of Larry Pitt & Associates is ready to represent you when you must go up against your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer who will do all they can to deny your claim in order to preserve profitability for their employer. Please call 888.PITT.LAW or use our contact form to schedule your free consultation. We proudly serve clients in and around Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties.
