Wearing the proper protective clothing and staying hydrated are two key things outdoor workers can do to protect themselves from cold weather injuries.

Picking up from How Outdoor Workers Can Protect Themselves in the Cold (Part 1)¸ here is some additional information regarding what outdoor workers should do to prevent themselves from sustaining serious cold weather injuries this winter season. While Part 1 of this blog focused on discussing some of the specific elements of the cold that lead to hypothermia and other serious cold weather injuries, here in Part 2, we will take a closer look at winter safety tips for outdoor workers. 

• Tip 1: Wear the proper protective clothing – Before going out in cold winter weather conditions to start work for the day, outdoor workers should make sure that they are wearing the necessary protective clothing that will keep them safe. Here, the acronym COLD can help them remember what they need to wear. This acronym represents the following:
  • C – Clean, meaning that winter clothing should be kept clean
  • O – Overheating, which should be prevented when selecting outdoor wear (This means that outdoor workers should choose clothing that will breath well and insulate them properly without causing them to sweat excessively and overheat.)
  • L – Loose and layered, which are two golden rules for winter clothing for outdoor workers (While loose clothing will allow the skin to breathe, layers allow for more effective control of body temperature, as workers can take off or add layers as they see fit.)
  • D – Dry, which refers to keeping all clothing free from moisture, which can turn into ice and immediately drop body temperatures in cold weather conditions.
• Tip 2: Stay hydrated – Drinking plenty of water and other liquids that can replenish the body’s electrolytes is another important factor in warding off cold weather injuries. This is because, when outdoor workers are hydrated, their bodies will be able to effective regulate their temperatures and will, as a result, be less susceptible to hypothermia.
• Tip 3: Make sure you are getting the proper nutrition – Along with being hydrated, being properly nourished is important to ensuring that outdoor workers’ bodies are able to effective combat the cold.

Colorado Workers’ Compensation Lawyers

If you have sustained a workplace injury and are considering (or in the process of) filing a workers’ compensation claim, you cannot rely upon your employer or insurance companies to look out for your best interests. In fact, both your employer and insurance companies will be more focused on their own bottom lines instead of your current and future wellbeing. This can make the system adversarial for injured workers and potentially even put them in situations in which their legitimate workers’ compensation claims are undercut or even flat-out denied.

In such cases, it’s essential that injured workers contact the Colorado workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Office of Michael P. Dominick. Our legal professionals are experienced at going up against corporate lawyers and insurance companies, and we have a proven track record of success when it comes to securing our Clients the maximum possible compensation for their injuries and financial losses. For a thorough evaluation of your case, along with expert advice on the best manner in which to move forward, call us at (303) 447-2644.