The Impact Of Climate Change On Workplace Injuries And Compensation

Climate change affects many aspects of life, including job safety. Knowing how climate change impacts work injuries and workers’ comp claims is crucial for employers and employees.

How climate change affects work injuries

Climate change can increase severe weather occurrences, raising the risk of work injuries. These changes include:

• Heat waves: Higher temps can cause heat-related illnesses, like heat stroke and thirst, mainly for outdoor workers.
• Severe storms: More storms can cause injuries from falling objects, slips and falls.
• Heavy floods: Flooded work sites can lead to electrical risks and water-borne diseases.

These factors can significantly affect worker safety and how often work injuries happen.

Legal considerations

When dealing with work injuries tied to climate change, you need to know several key legal points under Connecticut law:

• Workers’ compensation coverage: Connecticut’s Workers’ Compensation Act covers injuries and illnesses from work, including injuries from extreme weather.
• Employer duties: Bosses must provide a safe workplace, which means taking steps to protect workers from climate-related risks.
• Reporting and claims: Workers must report work injuries quickly. Delays in reporting can affect getting workers’ comp benefits.

Knowing these legal points is key for handling workers’ comp claims tied to climate change.

Climate change brings new challenges for work safety and workers’ comp claims. By knowing the impact of climate change and taking action, you can better protect your rights as a worker or do your duty as an employer. If you have questions or need more help, consider consulting a lawyer who knows Connecticut’s workers’ comp laws.