Common Summertime Workplace Accidents and Injuries

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With summer allowing for more work to be done outside, the season often sees an increase in the number of work accidents and injuries. Here are the most common summertime workplace accidents and injuries: 

Frequent Summer Workplace Accidents

The rate of workplace falls, including slip and falls, trip and falls, falls from heights, and falling object accidents goes up during the summer. While fall accidents can occur at any time of year, because summer coincides with the construction season, the rate of fall accidents goes up for the summer. Construction sites often create the perfect conditions for slip/trip-and-fall accidents, falls from heights, and falling object accidents, with construction workers often required to traverse rough and hazardous ground, to work up on scaffolding and roofs, and to lift construction materials up to buildings under construction. 

The rate of work-related motor vehicle accidents also increases, as rates of car crashes tend to go up during the summer months as a general rule. Summer can introduce new hazards onto the roads, including road works, teen drivers, and visiting motorists who may be unfamiliar with the area. With employees often visiting client sites or traveling on the road for work during the summer, workers can face increased risks of getting into car accidents on the job. 

Read more: Filing a Claim for a Workplace Accident in New Jersey

Common Summertime Workplace Accidents and Injuries You Need to Know About 

Soft tissue injuries such as sprains, strains, and tears represent one of the most common work injuries during the summer. This can likely be attributed to all the construction work that takes place over the summer, which frequently causes soft-tissue injuries for construction workers. Other common injuries that occur during the summer include lacerations, abrasions, and puncture wounds.

Other summer-specific injuries that employees suffer at work include:

• Dehydration - Dehydration occurs when your body doesn’t have sufficient fluids and electrolytes. It is often caused by working or being active in the heat for extended periods of time without drinking enough water and replenishing electrolytes. Symptoms of dehydration include fatigue, dizziness, headache, and dark-colored urine.
• Heat stroke - Heat stroke is a potentially fatal condition that involves your body overheating due to exposure to high temperatures, with your body unable to keep up through its natural cooling mechanisms. Like dehydration, heat stroke is caused by spending long hours under a hot sun. Symptoms include dizziness, confusion, nausea, and increased heart rate. 
• Sunburn - Sunburn can be caused by extended direct exposure to the summer sun’s damaging UV rays, especially without adequate sunscreen or other skin protection. While a sunburn usually just causes painful skin redness, more severe cases can cause blisters or swelling, indicative of a second-degree burn. Sunburns can also cause long-term damage that increases the risk of developing skin cancers. 

How an Attorney Can Help If You Are Injured in a Workplace Accident

If you suffer a work-related injury during the summer, a workers’ compensation attorney can help you to understand your legal rights and options under New Jersey’s workers’ compensation system and can help you pursue a formal claim for benefits from your employer or its workers’ compensation insurer. 

Read more: Impact of Filing a Workers' Comp Claim on Future Employment

Contact a Rochelle Park Workers’ Compensation Lawyer to Discuss Your New Jersey Workplace Injury Case

A workplace injury can be devastating, particularly if it prevents you from returning to work for an extended period of time. Although New Jersey Workers’ Compensation laws are supposed to provide you with reimbursement for medical expenses and replacement pay for missed time at work, it is not always easy to get the Workers’ Comp benefits you deserve. That is why you should speak with a knowledgeable Workers’ Compensation lawyer about your situation and get guidance throughout the claims process. The experienced Workers’ Compensation attorneys at The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. represent clients in Mahwah, Paramus, Ridgewood, Englewood, and all across New Jersey. Call (201) 380-7687 or fill out our online contact form today to schedule a free consultation about your work injury case. Our main office is located at 340 West Passaic Street, Rochelle Park, NJ 07662.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.