Summary: When temperatures increase, so do the risks facing employees. Learn more about some of the top workers' compensation claims filed in the summertime, and get workplace summer safety tips employers can implement to help reduce these specific, seasonal risks.
Common Summer Workers’ Comp Claims – and How to Avoid Them
No matter the time of year, when business owners consider the risks associated with running a business, the safety of their employees should always be top of mind. However, the summertime can bring unique hazards, including soaring temperatures, busy travel times and the potential for severe storms. During the summer months, it’s especially important for employers to take proactive steps to ensure their workers remain as safe as possible from these risks.
Top Workplace Summer Safety Tips to Reduce Employee Injuries and Illnesses
Here are several of the common
workers’ comp claims filed in the summer months, along with small steps businesses can take to help reduce the risk of accidents, injuries and illnesses while improving employee health and safety:
Heat-Related Illnesses
Outdoor workers and those who work in non-air-conditioned spaces are often at risk for a variety of
heat-related illnesses, including heat stress and heat exhaustion. It’s vital that employers provide proper training so employees and supervisors understand the dangers of heat-related illnesses, how to recognize symptoms, and how these conditions can impact overall health and safety.
Additionally, steps employers can take to reduce heat-related workers’ comp claims include:
- Developing and implementing an acclimatization plan so new workers can gradually adjust to heat
- Keeping workers hydrated by providing plenty of water throughout their shifts
- Ensuring workers wear appropriate clothing, such as loose-fitting, breathable fabrics
- Scheduling frequent breaks and monitoring workers for symptoms of heat-related illnesses
- Adjusting work schedules to earlier in the day when possible, to avoid late-day heat and humidity
- Providing shaded break areas or cooled spaces for relief from direct sun exposure
Young or Seasonal Worker Injuries
Summer often brings an influx of young and seasonal workers into the workforce. While this creates opportunities, these workers may lack experience and familiarity with workplace safety procedures.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), young workers (ages 15–24) consistently experience higher rates of job-related injuries than older workers, with those ages 18–19 facing the highest risk.
Young workers are also heavily concentrated in higher-risk industries: nearly half of workers ages 16–17 are employed in accommodation and food services sectors, where injury rates tend to be elevated. [cdc.gov]
These young or new, seasonal workers generally have less experience and training when they enter the workforce and may not fully understand workplace hazards or the safety procedures designed to prevent injuries on the job.
To reduce summer workers’ compensation claims in young or seasonal workers, employers should require all new hires to participate in safety training programs, understand their right to work in a safe environment and ensure these workers are consistently supervised. They should also learn what to do in the event of an emergency and how to report any injuries or near-miss accidents.
Summer Business Travel Abroad
Summer is a busy travel season for both business and pleasure. Employees required to travel abroad need to be aware of potential risks and how to protect themselves. These risks include:
- Unsafe drinking water: Employees should be reminded to drink only bottled water or sealed beverages and avoid ice cubes in certain regions
- Exposure to infectious diseases, depending on the destination
- Failing to receive recommended vaccinations in advance. Some destinations require vaccines several weeks prior to travel for full effectiveness
Employers should encourage workers to review current public health guidance, such as CDC travel advisories, before traveling.
Cleanup and Restoration from Storms or Wildfires
Mother Nature can wreak havoc on commercial property, with
heavy rains and high winds from storms damaging building exteriors such as roofs, signage, and gutters. Summer also marks peak
wildfire season in many regions, bringing damage to thousands of commercial structures in high-risk regions like California.
These acts of nature and the cleanup process involved can also be hazardous to employees and can result in workers’ compensation claims. Therefore, employers should take steps to prepare for weather-related incidents:
- Watch the weather reports to stay informed of any impending severe storms
- Properly prepare the building by securing any loose items outside, moving items away from exterior glass frontage and unplugging electrical equipment
- Develop an emergency action plan to ensure employees have adequate time to evacuate safely
- Following water damage, protect employees from the risk of mold exposure by using dehumidifiers to remove excess moisture from the air
- Keep the affected areas ventilated by opening doors and windows
- Ensure employees involved in cleanup efforts understand how to properly lift debris, use equipment safely, and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, hard hats, goggles, and dust masks or respirators
Risk Control Services from AmTrust Financial Can Help Reduce Summer Workers' Comp Claims
AmTrust’s
Risk Control Department understands the importance of helping small business identify hazards by assessing the conditions, practices and processes to reduce the risk of accidents, injuries and illnesses.
Our goal is to provide the valuable
resources that help create effective risk control program for the specific needs of our insureds. For more information, please
contact us today.
This material is for informational purposes only and is not legal or business advice. Neither AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates represents or warrants that the information contained herein is appropriate or suitable for any specific business or legal purpose. Readers seeking resolution of specific questions should consult their business and/or legal advisors. Coverages may vary by location. Contact your local RSM for more information.