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How to protect yourself in cold weather

On Behalf of | Dec 15, 2020 | Workers' compensation |

While working in the Kentucky, heat can cause health issues like fainting and heat stroke. However, working in cold weather can be just as dangerous. If you don’t take precautions, you may suffer from fatigue, dehydration, numbness and even frostbite. Here’s how to stay safe when working outside in cold weather.

How can you avoid injuries when working in cold weather?

This may sound like common sense, but make sure you dress in warm clothes when you work outside in cold weather. If you don’t cover your extremities, like your fingers and toes, you may end up suffering from frostbite. Wear layers of warm clothing, and add waterproof gear to keep the snow and ice from seeping into your clothes. If your clothing gets wet, change into dry clothes right away. Wearing wet clothes for a long time can lead to illnesses like hypothermia.

Most people tend to associate hot weather with dehydration. However, you can dehydrate just as quickly if you’re working in cold weather. Make sure you drink plenty of water and eat regularly, so you can keep your strength up. Your body needs the fuel that it gets from food to keep you warm in the winter. If you suffer from fatigue while you’re on the job site, you may end up injuring yourself and filing for workers’ compensation.

You should also take breaks during the workday, so you can go inside and warm up. If your employer doesn’t let you take breaks, you may want to hire an attorney. An employer should allow you to take breaks, so you can stay healthy and ward off frostbite.

Do you need an attorney to file for workers’ compensation?

Before you file for workers’ compensation, you’ll need to figure out if you qualify and, if so, for how much. An attorney could answer all your questions to ensure that you get the right amount of compensation. Plus, a lawyer could protect you if your employer tries to claim that you’re exaggerating your injuries or threatens to fire you for seeking workers’ comp.