Maryland Workers’ Compensation for Heat-Related Injuries and Illnesses
Maryland summers are brutal. For workers who spend their days outdoors or in hot indoor environments, extreme heat is not just uncomfortable; it is dangerous.
High temperatures affect the body and the mind in ways that make workplace accidents more likely, and the risks don’t stop there. Heat can also trigger occupational illnesses that send workers to the hospital and keep them off the job for weeks. Our experienced Maryland workers’ compensation attorney explains more about the risks and your rights to benefits.
Workplace Accidents in Maryland More Likely To Happen in Extreme Heat
Heat does not just make workers uncomfortable. It impairs the physical and mental functions that keep people safe on the job. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) claims that, while preventable, hot temperatures remain a leading cause of workplace illnesses and injuries, particularly during the late summer months.
Heat-related accidents and injuries are common among agriculture workers, construction workers, landscapers, and anyone who works outside. However, even if your job has you indoors most of the day, hot, humid temps can increase body temperature, decrease reaction time, and impair coordination and concentration. Common types of on-the-job accidents that can happen as a result:
- Falls from platforms, ladders, or scaffolding;
- Heavy machinery and equipment accidents;
- Construction vehicle and forklift accidents;
- Overexertion injuries;
- Burns and chemical exposure accidents;
- Getting struck by objects on construction sites and warehouses.
When these types of accidents cause you injuries, you have the right to seek benefits through the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC).
Occupational Illnesses in Maryland Triggered by High Heat
In addition to increasing the risk of on-the-job injuries in Maryland, hot, humid summer temperatures can increase the likelihood of debilitating occupational illnesses. Common types of conditions that may make you eligible for Maryland workers’ compensation benefits:
- Heat exhaustion, which can progress quickly into a life-threatening situation.
- Heat stroke, one of the most severe and potentially fatal heat-related illnesses.
- Rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition where heat-induced muscle breakdown releases proteins into the bloodstream that can cause acute kidney failure and long-term organ damage.
- Worsening of pre-existing conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or respiratory illness that are directly aggravated by occupational heat exposure.
For many workers, there’s no getting out of high heat on the job. However, whether you work on a road crew, in a factory or restaurant, or in other places where the temperature can be a factor, it’s important to be aware of the risks.
If you experience a heat-related illness or injury in Maryland, notify your employer immediately, get medical treatment, follow your doctor’s instructions, and contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney for help in getting the benefits you deserve.
Contact Our Maryland Workers’ Compensation Attorney
A heat-related workplace accident or illness in Maryland can sideline you for weeks or months after. At Berman, Sobin, Gross, Feldman & Darby LLP, our experienced Maryland workers’ compensation attorney protects your rights and fights to get the benefits you deserve. For trusted legal representation, contact our office and request a consultation today.
Source:
osha.gov/heat-exposure
