Lawyers who handle workplace injury cases explain

Many construction accidents occur due to dehydration and workers overheating, according to a recent study that emphasized the importance of construction workers staying properly hydrated while working in hot and humid weather.

An estimated 5 to 10 million construction workers face health risks every day on the job due to overheating, according to the study. That’s why it’s critical that construction companies provide regular access to clean drinking water to employees in order to avoid heat-related injuries.

“Without easy access to fluids, workers can become dehydrated, which is a prime cause of heat illness,” the study states, adding that the “health benefits of proper hydration” makes “for a more productive and healthier work force.”

How common are heat-related injuries?

A total of 79,660 construction workers sustained injuries on the job that required them to miss work in 2019, according to annual workplace injury statistics compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Precise statistics concerning how many of those injuries involved excessive heat exposure were not available.

However, heat exposure-related injuries involving all workers in all industries have been a problem for years, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In particular, OSHA noted that 50 to 70 percent of heat exposure-related illnesses or injuries “occur in the first few days of working in warm or hot environments because the body needs to build a tolerance to the heat gradually over time.”

In addition, OSHA noted that roofing workers are some of the most at-risk construction workers when it comes to heat-related illnesses and injuries. Specifically, thousands of roofers become seriously sick each year due to occupational heat exposure, another OSHA study stated.

What’s the best way to prevent heat illness?

The best way to avoid heat illness while working at a construction site is to stay properly hydrated throughout the day. This means drinking water regularly. Construction workers should drink 5 to 7 ounces of fluids every 15 to 20 minutes, OSHA recommends.

In addition, employers need to make sure that construction workers have access to water at all times on the job. Employers also need to make sure that construction workers have the time to take short breaks in order to regularly drink water.

Construction workers and employers should also be aware of the warning signs of heat exhaustion or other heat-related illnesses:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Throbbing headache
• Bright red skin
• Vomiting and nausea
• Muscle cramps
• Disorientation or confusion

Construction workers and construction companies need to take warning signs very seriously. Otherwise, workers can get very sick or ill due to heat exhaustion, dehydration, and other heat-related illnesses.

How can a lawyer help?

You might think you don’t need an attorney if you sustained a heat-related injury or illness while working at a construction site. Many cases often turn out to be complicated legal matters, however. Sometimes, it’s because the construction company denies doing anything wrong. Other times, the construction company’s insurance company can make things difficult and deny your injury claim.

Construction accident attorney Deborah G. Kohl and her talented legal team at the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl know how to deal with these types of cases. Our familiarity with them comes from years of working with construction workers injured on the job in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. You may be entitled to financial compensation in the form of workers’ compensation benefits or additional money, especially if the construction company you work for failed to take preventative steps to protect your health and safety.

Learn more about your legal rights if you or a loved one sustained a serious injury or illness due to heat exposure at a construction site. Contact our law firm and schedule your free case evaluation at one of our three office locations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Our attorneys explain what you need to know

Two Veterans Affairs hospital employees who were killed while on the job died due to unsafe working conditions that could have been prevented, according to a recent federal investigation.

The fatal work accident occurred in November 2020 in West Haven, Connecticut, according to the Hartford Courant. A recent investigation conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revealed the incident occurred due to hot steam rapidly releasing onto the two workers. Three other workers were injured in the accident, and the OSHA investigation discovered nine safety violations, including a lack of safety measures that could have prevented the hot steam accident.

Worst of all, such accidents are not isolated incidences. Thousands of people are killed and injured each year around the country in workplace accidents.

How common are workplace accidents?

Despite efforts to improve workplace safety, accidents in the workplace remain common and result in thousands of fatalities and injuries every year. In 2019, there were 2.8 million workplace accidents nationwide, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Such accidents resulted in 888,200 injuries, including 295,180 muscle sprains, strains or tears, along with 136,190 back injuries.

As for workplace fatalities, they reached a 12-year high in 2019. That year, there were 5,333 workplace fatalities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That figure is the highest number since 2007 when there were 5,657 workplace fatalities.

As for where the workplace fatalities took place in 2019, Massachusetts had 86 workplace fatalities and Rhode Island had 10 fatalities. The state with the most workplace fatalities in 2019 was Texas, where 608 workers died in work-related accidents.

What are the common causes of these accidents?

While workplace accidents happen for many different reasons, certain situations often result in more workplace accidents than others. The most common cause of workplace fatalities are road-related accidents in which employees are driving for work-related purposes. In 2019, for example, 1,270 work-related fatalities occurred due to roadway incidents.

Slip, trip and fall accidents are another common cause of workplace injuries and fatalities. In 2019, a total of 244,000 injuries and 880 fatalities occurred due to slip and fall accidents at work.

Other common causes of fatal workplace accidents include coming into contact with another object or workplace equipment (which resulted in 732 workplace fatalities nationwide in 2019) and exposure to harmful or dangerous substances (642 fatalities in 2019), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How can a lawyer help me?

You might think you don’t need an attorney if OSHA or another state or federal agency is investigating your workplace accident. State or federal investigators are focused on determining the cause of your accident, however, not whether you’re fairly compensated for your injury-related expenses. In addition, your employer, their insurance company, and their attorneys are often doing everything they can to pay you as little as possible or deny your injury claim.

Workplace accident attorney Deborah G. Kohl and her talented legal team at the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl have years of experience handling these types of cases. As a result, we’re familiar with the state and federal rules and regulations governing workplace safety. We know how to investigate workplace accidents and find evidence in support of your claim. Whether it’s reviewing inspection reports or accident records, we work tirelessly to build the strongest possible legal case. Learn more about how our law firm can help you with your workplace accident. Contact us and schedule your free case evaluation at one of our office locations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.