With winter right around the corner, Iowa workers are turning their sights to dealing with the cold. Extreme cold is a safety hazard, even for those who work inside most of the day. When temperatures plunge, exposed body parts can suffer from a lack of circulation, and tissue can die. Workers might also get into more accidents due to snow or ice. If you suffer a cold-related injury, you might receive workers’ compensation benefits.
Call an experienced Cedar Falls workers’ compensation lawyer at Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C. to learn more about how to submit a claim. In this article, we look at the most common cold-related injuries and provide tips on how to make an insurance claim.
1. Slip and Fall Accidents on Ice or Snow
Cold weather brings with it freezing rain and snow, which can make walking to work treacherous. Anyone could slip and fall in the company parking lot or on the walkway into the office. Snow can also accumulate right inside the door.
Workers can suffer serious injuries in a fall:
- Concussions
- Whiplash
- Sprains or strains
- Fractures
- Back injuries
An employer should promptly shovel snow and put down sand or ice melt. Installing carpets near the front entrance can trap water and provide traction.
Generally, Iowa workers’ compensation law prevents workers from requesting compensation if they are hurt while traveling to or from work. Consequently, you can’t receive compensation if you fall outside your house on your way to work.
But an exception might apply if you were on your employer’s property when you were injured. You might request benefits if your employer failed to shovel the walkways or parking lot and you fell. These areas are under your employer’s control, so an accident is possibly covered by workers’ comp. Call our office to check.
2. Frostbite
Extreme cold can freeze the skin and underlying tissue. The most vulnerable areas are a person’s extremities, including their nose, fingers, toes, ears, and chin.
The most common symptom of frostbite is white skin which is numb. A worker should have thick gloves and socks to keep their extremities warm if they are working outside. Those who can avoid going outside should do so when temps fall below freezing. Depending on the wind chill, frostbite might set in after only a few minutes.
If you think you have frostbite, you should immediately rewarm any affected extremity. Unfortunately, extensive frostbite could lead to gangrene and amputation of the affected limb.
3. Hypothermia
This is a life-threatening medical condition which occurs when your body temperature falls below 95°F. The most common symptoms include shivering, confusion, and drowsiness. If you notice the first signs of hypothermia, get to a heat source. Unfortunately, confusion can set in quickly, which makes it impossible for someone suffering from hypothermia to save themselves.
Hypothermia is a risk when someone gets wet during the cold. It is critical to remove wet clothes and immediately rewarm the body. Use warm air, blankets, or heat packs to quickly increase body temperature and prevent death. You can also help a colleague struggling with hypothermia by calling an ambulance.
4. Car Accidents in Winter Conditions
Car accidents are more common in the winter, as drivers contend with reduced traction due to snow and ice, as well as reduced visibility. A worker who travels for their job could receive compensation if they were injured in a motor vehicle accident. Examples include delivery drivers or workers who travel between offices.
As mentioned above, you probably are not covered if you were simply driving into work or from work back home at the end of the day, unless you were running errands at the direction of your boss.
5. Seasonal Illness
Although illnesses are not cold “injuries” in the standard sense, they do increase in frequency during the winter. Workers could struggle with serious illnesses such as influenza, COVID, and pneumonia. If the worker picks up an illness at the workplace, then these are possible occupational illnesses which might qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
Receiving Workers’ Comp
Eligibility for workers’ comp depends primarily on whether you were injured while working. If so, then a cold-related injury is covered.
Workers in the following industries are most vulnerable to extreme cold during Iowa winters:
- Construction
- Maintenance
- Utility work
- Emergency services
- Dairy and agriculture
These employees work outside for extended periods. But even those outside only briefly, like teachers, could get frostbite. And any worker, even those in an office, can pick up an illness in the winter.
An employer should provide equipment to help workers minimize the risk of a cold injury, including gloves and protective coverings, like earmuffs. However, workers’ compensation benefits are no fault, so it does not matter whether your employer was negligent in keeping your workplace safe.
What Benefits Can You Receive for a Workplace Injury?
Workers’ compensation provides various benefits:
- Medical care. The insurance company should pay for any reasonable and necessary care, which might mean hospitalization, monitoring in the ICU, amputation or surgery.
- Disability benefits. A worker can also receive disability benefits. You might be unable to work entirely after suffering an injury, at least temporarily, so you request temporary disability benefits.
- Permanent disability benefits. If you lose a finger, hand, or leg, then a worker can receive permanent partial disability benefits. These benefits compensate for the loss of a body part even after you reach maximum medical improvement.
Our office can review what benefits you should receive. If a loved one died due to hypothermia, then surviving family members might receive a death benefit.
Schedule a Consultation with Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C.
Extreme cold is a little-appreciated danger. Many workers suffer serious injuries when they are forced to work without sufficient protective coverings or clothing. Contact our office to learn more about whether you can request workers’ comp. We can advise you of what steps to take and can even file an appeal if your initial claim is denied. We are always available 24/7 for our clients.