As we start to head into the coldest time of the year it is critical for those that work outside or in colder environments to bundle up to stay warm. It is also important that if you are one of the people who work at sites where the cold weather can impact your day to day that you keep an eye out for slippery surfaces to avoid a Connecticut workers’ compensation injury.
When the cold weather hits it can affect many different industries in different ways, but one way that can impact all businesses is the formation of ice on surfaces that workers are using to perform their jobs. Take for instance a line worker for the electric company. In cold temperatures she/he may still need to load into a bucket truck and work on the wires. If the truck has sat outside and developed ice inside the bucket it could mean serious trouble when the arm is raised to get the job done.
Ice can form in any location and affect a worker doing any job that is in the cold and therefore it is critical for you, if you are in a situation where you are working in the cold that you are aware of this and take steps to keep yourself safe.
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The first thing you can do to keep yourself free from the dangers of ice is to wear the appropriate footwear. Footwear can be one of your saving graces if you are wearing the right shoes or boots in the right settings. If you know that there is a good likelihood that you will be facing ice in your job you will want boots that are designed for icy surfaces. While footwear alone cannot keep you from slipping and injuring yourself, it is a good first step.
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Speaking of steps, watch your step. This is something that can make your job more tedious, but it can certainly keep you safer and free from injury. If you are walking somewhere, even if you normally walk there and never have any problems, if the temperatures are below freezing you will want to take extra time to traverse that spot to make sure each of your steps does not lead to you slipping and falling and injuring yourself while on the job.
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If there is a situation where it is clearly too icy to be doing your job and you wouldn’t be able to be safe when walking on the surfaces that are iced over you should speak with your supervisor about suspending the job until the ice has melted. Of course, a good company will do this without you having to ask, but there are companies where you will need to ask and put your safety first before getting the job done.
Icy surfaces can form at any time over the next few months and you need to be on the lookout for them so you don’t end up getting injured and needing to file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim. If you are in a work environment that may lead you to a situation where you are encountering slippery surfaces you will want to take the necessary precautions to keep yourself safe.
Injuries can be common this time of year and if you get injured you may need to speak with a board certified attorney. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will speak with you about the particulars of your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.
