National Weather Service Issues Alert: Temps Top 113 in AZ
News reports like this one from AZCentral.com, an online source for Arizona news, show that the National Weather Service issued an “excessive heat watch” for Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12. Even night temperatures stayed high, in the mid-80s.
Public officials know that high temperatures like these are silent killers. Every summer, thousands die across the nation from exposure to high temperatures and inadequate relief. Many of these are elderly citizens, and many others are out in the heat and sun for too long. In addition, law enforcement officials are on watch during heat waves, as high temperatures tend to boost crime rates.
The issue of a heat advisory is all well and good for those shuttered away from the sun in air-conditioned homes and offices, but what about those who need to labor out in the AZ heat? Too often, the laborers who contend with Arizona temperatures lack adequate protection in the form of periodic respite, protective gear or other safety standards. A combination of dehydration, solar exposure and physical labor in heated environments can cause a variety of life-threatening conditions. Are employers paying attention? If not, they can be contributing to a large roster of companies and businesses suffering from illness rates due to heat or sun exposure.
American workplaces have standards for limiting adverse environmental conditions, but because of some lax laws and bureaucratic implementation, there is still the opportunity for error. Further compounding the process is an employer shift of responsibility for heat and sun protection for workers to third party firms or outsourced contractors. However, the bottom line is no matter whether a worker is company hired, independently contracted or otherwise employed, all share the right to safe working conditions.
Those who suffer from heat and sun-related illnesses frequently look into assigning responsibility to their employer or another party. All too often, though, the workers themselves lack the legal expertise to pursue compensation for heat-related injuries or illness. That’s when skilled Arizona construction injury lawyers can go to bat for construction workers adversely affected by working outdoors without appropriate safeguards in place.
If you or a loved one has fallen ill due to heat or sun exposure in an Arizona construction environment, you need skilled representation to make sure that you get the best settlement possible for compensating any health conditions that arise. The professional construction accident attorneys in Phoenix at Breyer Law Offices, P.C. can help. Please call us for a free consultation at 602-978-6400.
