When the winter weather hits and the cold settles in, workers who have to spend any time outside as part of their job duties need to be cautious.
When you’re busy, it’s easy to overlook the warning signs of trouble, but exposure to extreme cold (and the dampness that often goes with it) can pose serious health problems for many.
4 common injuries caused by cold exposure
Workers in all kinds of industries struggle with the cold temperatures, particularly those in construction, emergency response, agriculture and landscaping. While bundled, layered clothing, gloves and other protective gear can help avoid problems, they aren’t foolproof. You can easily end up with conditions like:
- Hypothermia: Hypothermia sets in when your body loses heat too quickly, causing your overall body temperature to fall below normal. Symptoms include shivering, confusion and fatigue that can quickly profess to unconsciousness.
- Frostbite: Frostbite is the term for when skin and other tissues freeze, and it commonly attacks the extremities, such as your fingers, toes, nose and ears. Symptoms start with tingling and redness in the affected areas, progressing to blanched skin and numbness. Without proper treatment, amputations can be necessary.
- Trench foot: This is a common condition for those who have to work in conditions where wet and cold are combined and they struggle to keep their feet dry. If you have trench foot, you may experience severe swelling, numbness and tingling in your feet, with red and damaged skin.
- Chilblains: Chilblains are inflammatory skin lesions caused by repeated exposure to severe cold, and it can leave exposed skin red, swollen and blistered.
It’s important to understand that any sign of a cold injury requires immediate attention – and it may take more than merely retreating to shelter and warming up to resolve the problem. Workers’ compensation will cover your medical expenses, so seek immediate treatment and report your injury to your supervisor or employer as quickly as possible.
If you’re struggling to obtain workers’ compensation after a cold-related injury, it may be time to seek additional information about your legal options.