As a business owner or manager, the last thing you want is for your employees to suffer heatstroke at your workplace during hot times of the year. Heatstroke is an unfortunately common but dangerous side effect of getting overheated or spending too long in an improperly cooled and ventilated area, especially during the summer months. When an employee experiences heatstroke, you may be liable for filling workers’ compensation claims, which can put a further financial and legal strain on your company.
Fortunately, there are a few steps your business can take now to help prevent heatstroke in the first place.
Understand the Most Common Factors That Increase Heatstroke Risk
Several key factors play into increased heatstroke risks, so when you notice one or more of these factors in your workplace, it’s time to make a change to prevent heat-related problems. These factors are:
- Higher-than-usual temperature and humidity
- Direct exposure to sun
- Sedentary work hours with little to no movement
- Long work hours in an overheated building
- No drinking water
- Winter clothing
Keep an Eye Out for Heat-Related Conditions in Your Employees
Depending on your employees, your office may be more or less at an overall risk for heatstroke and other heat-related conditions. Those more likely to get heatstroke include:
- Employees currently on certain medications
- Employees with existing health issues like heart disease
- Employees age 65 and over
Additionally, several physical warning signs may indicate an employee is developing heatstroke. If you see any of these signs, check with your employee and call medical services if needed. These signs include, but are not limited to:
- Reddened skin
- Elevated body temperature and skin that feels hot to the touch
- Fainting or dizzy spells
- Confusion or disorientation
Put Strong Prevention Measures in Place in Your Office
Last but not least, it’s essential to ensure your business or office space is prepared for hot weather and equipped with preventative measures. Experiencing a hot day with, for instance, no access to water or a broken air conditioning system will only raise the risk of an employee experiencing heatstroke. Instead, you can take some simple steps to prevent heat-related problems. For instance, you can:
- Provide easy access to clean drinking water for your employees
- Consider allowing greater schedule flexibility during periods of extreme heat
- Monitor the temperature and humidity inside your office and adjust the air conditioning as needed
- Pair up employees to check each other for potential signs of heat stroke
Heatstroke is a dangerous risk during periods of hot weather, and it’s important for your business to take steps now to help prevent it. By implementing these early measures, you can help keep your workers safe and your business safe from workers’ comp claims all at once.
About InsureMyWorkComp
InsureMyWorkComp is a digital brokerage that helps clients find the right workers’ compensation solution for their business needs. Unlike other online platforms, we will help you to work with an agent who can provide you the right solution for your risk profile. Our staff has over 50 years of workers’ compensation underwriting and sales experience, and we are confident that we will provide you the support that you need. For more information or to get a quote, contact us today at (855) 340-9138.