It’s that time of year when the sun shines brighter and the temperatures rise; however, summer weather can actually increase your chance for a work injury in more ways than you may think.
Higher temperatures increase the chance of heat stroke, especially for workers who spend lots of time outside. However, any employee can suffer sickness or injury due to high temperatures if employers do not provide adequate ventilation, regularly scheduled water breaks or uniform adjustments designed for warmer weather.
Additionally, higher temperatures mean sweat, and this brings its own set of risks. For example, sweat can cause a worker’s goggles or glasses to fog up and an accident can easily take place. Sweat also makes hands slippery which could cause a malfunction or injury.
If an employer fails to take steps to protect employees from heat-related harm, they could be held liable later on. Continue reading to learn more about how weather can affect your chance of work injury.