Claiming Workers Compensation for a Heat Stroke Suffered at Work

If you suffer a heat stroke at work, you may be entitled to workers compensation benefits.

Outdoor workers become vulnerable to heat related illnesses, and can suffer a heat stroke due to exposure to very high temperatures. A heat stroke has a serious physical impact and it also increases the risk of accidents in the workplace. If you suffer a heat stroke at work, you may be entitled to workers compensation benefits.

What is a Heat Stroke?

To put it simply, it is the condition which occurs when the body gets overheated up to nearly 104 degrees. Heat stroke often damages the brain and the internal organs, and can even cause death.

Symptoms Heat Stroke

It is necessary to familiarize workers with the symptoms of heat related illnesses such as a heat stroke so that they can take preventative measures. Some symptoms are:

• Persistent headache
• Light-headedness and dizziness
• Less sweating
• Hot, dry and red skin
• Weakness or cramps in the muscles
• Vomiting and nausea
• Sporadic heartbeat
• Fast, shallow breathing
• Confusion or disorientation
• Seizures
• Lack of coordination
• Unconsciousness

All outdoor workers should be aware of these signs. As soon as any symptom occurs the worker should go and sit in some cool or shaded place, drink some water and make sure a supervisor is informed.

Eligibility For Claiming Workers’ Compensation

Usually, workers who work outdoors for long periods of time are at risk of a heat-related sicknesses. Any worker who suffers from a heat stroke when he is at work, is generally eligible to receive workers’ compensation.

Your employer may try saying that the heat stroke was due to some other health problem, and was not related in any way to the conditions in the workplace. This does not necessarily mean you are not eligible to receive workers comp.

Support Available To Get Your Workers’ Compensation

Fortunately, there are lawyers who deal with such matters and can help you receive the compensation you are entitled to.

What do workers compensation attorneys do?

• They assist in getting all the medical documentation related to your treatment for the heat stroke.
• They collect all the information about the weather on the day you suffered from the stroke.
• They get witness testimonies. They may ask your co-workers to describe the entire situation when you got injured.
• They ensure your legal rights are protected and fight in your behalf to get you compensation you deserve.

Safety measures to protect workers from a heat stroke

Here are some of the safety measures employers may take to avert or deal with a heat stroke:

• Make some emergency plan which tells what is to be done when a worker shows signs of suffering from a heat related sickness. The plan should ensure that immediate medical assistance is available in such situations.
• Help employees to get adjusted to the high temperature in the work environment. For this, the employers should increase the workloads gradually, and especially allow new workers and other employees who have not been working for some time, to take frequent breaks.
• Drinking water should be available nearby.
• The workload should be evenly distributed for the day keeping in mind the work and rest cycle.
• Heavy work should be scheduled for the part of the day when the weather is cool. Physical work should be reduced when the weather is hot.