If you ask a few St. Louis workers compensation attorneys what time of year yields the most work injury claims, you might find out that the holiday season is the answer. The reasons for this trend come down to a lack of sleep, increased drinking, ladder use at work, and cold weather. Fortunately, you can avoid these hazards by following the four crucial tips we detail in the sections below.
Don’t Fall Behind on Sleep
One of the most significant dangers workers run into around the holidays is fatigue, and it's no mystery why. This time of year is when family and friends are in town, and people tend to stay up late celebrating. As fun as doing so is, you should also make sure that you’re getting enough sleep every night. A tired employee is one that is prone to making mistakes, and errors lead to injuries.
Never Work While Intoxicated
Though you may never purposely work under the influence, two scenarios often play out around the holidays. First, you might get called in at a time when you think you’re going to be off all day. Rather than admit that you have been drinking and cannot work, you might try to appease your boss and go in anyways. The second is drinking late into the night when you have work early the next morning. Intoxication can linger into the next day, and you may get hurt as a result. Doing so will not only cause you pain and frustration, but it will likely disqualify you from workers’ compensation benefits.
Be Careful With Ladders
Those that work in smaller business might be asked to hang lights on the outside of their buildings. Doing so puts you in a vulnerable position, as you might be two or more stories in the air during cold weather. This situation can end in a tragic fall, so try to be careful when you use ladders and follow all of the common sense safety guidelines associated with them. The most important of them include inspecting before use, staying away from electrical devices, and not carrying excessive loads while climbing.
Bundle Up
If you work indoors, you will likely have a nice, temperate workplace. For those of you who work outside, the weather becomes a factor. Employees sustain damages from frostbite and other cold weather complications all the time, so make sure you bundle up and stay warm. Doing so will make you less likely to be affected by hypothermia, fatigue, falling, and much more.
The holidays are a joyous time of year, but you shouldn’t completely let loose during them. The reason is that this period can be dangerous for workers who are not careful. You can do your part in keeping yourself safe by following the tips on this list. Of course, you could still sustain a work injury on the job. In that case, it's a good idea to speak with a St. Louis work injury attorney to discuss your potential for collecting benefits.
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