Outside Workers Must be Cautious as Summer Temperatures Heat Up
Jul 30, 2011
Chicago, IL (Law Firm Newswire) July 29, 2011 – Chicago is experiencing some of the hottest weather on record in the last five years. In 2010, 30 workers died from the heat. The U.S. Labor Department recently launched a national outreach campaign to protect workers from heat-related illnesses and death. Thousands of workers are affected by heat-related illnesses each year. If left unchecked, heat exhaustion can turn into heat stroke, putting a worker’s life in peril.
Heat-related illness and death can happen in industries ranging from construction, agriculture, tourism, and even outside sales jobs. Employers must take steps to ensure that their workers have access to safe drinking water, are limited to time in direct sunshine, take more breaks, and are aware of the symptoms, says the Occupational Safety & Health Administration.
Heat stroke is a very serious medical emergency. It can lead to high body temperature above 106 degrees and a rapid heartbeat. If prolonged, it can cause unconsciousness, shock, and death.
“If a worker is not taken to the emergency room, a heat stroke could cause a heart attack, permanent damage to the nervous system, and death,” according to Chicago wrongful death lawyer Robert I. Briskman. “These issues are preventable if employers can ensure the safety of their workers while in the summer heat.”
OSHA recommends that workers drink water every 15 minutes, even if they are not thirsty. Other steps include resting in the shade to cool down, even for five minutes, and wearing light colored clothing. Employers can be liable if they do not provide a safe work environment for their employees.
As a Chicago wrongful death attorney, Robert Briskman knows the complexities of dealing with an employer and its insurance company when an employee has wrongfully died or suffered serious injuries from the heat. The lawyers at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg provide top-tier representation, and are there for an individual and family when they need this critical assistance. They have decades of experience dealing with construction accidents and will take all the steps to get their clients the monetary compensation they deserve for their injury or loss.
Paul Greenberg is a Chicago wrongful death attorney and Chicago wrongful death lawyer with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.
Briskman Briskman & Greenberg
351 West Hubbard Street, Ste 810
Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: 312.222.0010
