Heat Stress and Cold Exposure Injuries in the Workplace

Rockland County Attorney Helping Injured Workers Protect Their Interests

Whether you’re laboring in the hot summer sun or navigating subzero temperatures on a winter job site, your work environment can pose significant risks. Heat stress and cold exposure injuries in the workplaceare not only dangerous, but they are also increasingly common in industries that require outdoor labor or work in poorly insulated environments. These injuries can strike quickly and leave long-lasting physical and emotional effects. Fortunately, New York’s workers’ compensation system provides protection for those harmed by extreme temperatures. If you suffered heat stress or cold exposure injuries in the workplace, you may be entitled to benefits that can cover your medical treatment and lost wages, and you should talk to an attorney. Valerie Crown of The Law Firm of Valerie J. Crown, Attorney at Law, P.C., is a capable Rockland County workers’ compensation lawyer, who understands the urgency and complexity of these claims, and if she represents you, she will diligently pursue the outcome you deserve. Ms. Crown provides dedicated legal support to injured workers throughout Rockland, Orange, Westchester, Dutchess, Ulster, and Putnam Counties, as well as the broader New York metropolitan area.

The Effects of Heat Stress and Cold Exposure Injuries

Heat stress and cold exposure injuries in the workplace occur when workers are subjected to environmental temperatures that exceed the body’s capacity to regulate its internal temperature. Heat stress may arise in hot, humid settings or in confined areas with poor ventilation, such as boiler rooms or industrial kitchens. Conversely, cold exposure injuries tend to occur in unheated outdoor or indoor locations during winter months, particularly in occupations like construction, sanitation, and delivery services.

When the body cannot maintain a safe internal temperature, the result can be catastrophic. Heat-related illnesses include heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration, which can cause confusion, loss of consciousness, organ failure, and even death. Cold exposure can result in hypothermia, frostbite, and trench foot, each of which can lead to lasting nerve damage, amputation, and impaired circulation.

These injuries often leave lasting physical damage. Recovery from heat stroke, for instance, may require extended hospitalization and ongoing monitoring of organ function. Cold-induced injuries, such as severe frostbite, can permanently impair a worker’s mobility or dexterity, especially if surgery or amputation is necessary. Beyond the immediate physiological effects, these conditions may lead to long-term unemployment, financial hardship, and emotional trauma.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Heat Stress and Cold Exposure Injuries in the Workplace

Under New York’s workers’ compensation system, most employees, who suffer heat stress and cold exposure injuries in the workplace, are entitled to compensation, provided that the injury occurred in the course of their employment. This includes full-time, part-time, and even seasonal workers, so long as the exposure to extreme temperatures was a direct result of their work conditions. Importantly, it is not necessary for an employer to have been negligent; New York’s workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, meaning that benefits may be awarded regardless of who caused the injury, as long as it arose from the job.

New York’s workers’ compensation law allows injured employees to recover both medical and wage loss benefits. Medical benefits cover the full cost of treatment. This includes emergency room visits, hospitalization, diagnostic testing, follow-up care, surgeries, physical therapy, medications, and necessary medical equipment.

In addition to medical care, workers who are unable to return to work temporarily may receive temporary total or temporary partial disability benefits. These payments are calculated as a percentage of the worker’s average weekly wage, up to a maximum set by New York law. If the injury causes permanent impairment, workers may qualify for permanent partial or permanent total disability benefits, depending on the severity and location of the injury. In the most serious cases, when a worker dies from heat stress or cold exposure, surviving family members may be entitled to death benefits, including funeral expenses and weekly payments.

There are also vocational rehabilitation services available through the workers’ compensation system for individuals whose injuries prevent them from returning to their previous job. These services can include job training, educational programs, and counseling, designed to help the injured worker transition into a new field or adjust to new physical limitations.

Contact a Seasoned Rockland County Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today

No one should have to choose between earning a living and risking their health. If you suffered heat stress and cold exposure injuries in the workplace, you should talk to an attorney about what benefits you may be owed. Valerie Crown of The Law Firm of Valerie J. Crown, Attorney at Law, P.C., is a seasoned Rockland County workers’ compensation attorney, who understands the challenges that injured workers face, and if you hire her, she will fight to help you seek every benefit the law affords. Ms. Crown represents clients in Rockland, Westchester, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, and Putnam Counties and the surrounding metropolitan area. You can contact her to schedule a consultation via the form online or at 845-708-5900 (office) or 845-598-8253 (Valerie’s direct cellphone available 24/7).