How does Minnesota law protect winter construction workers?

On Behalf of | Oct 23, 2024 | Workers' Compensation |

Nearly 250 infrastructure-related projects are underway across Minnesota and are expected to continue well into winter. Most Minnesota construction companies manage safety instead of halting projects when temperatures drop. However, an inadequate response to increased risk on the worksite can lead to severe, or even fatal, accidents.

Understanding your workers’ rights in these conditions can be crucial in maintaining safe working environments and securing fair compensation for workplace injuries.

Common winter construction hazards

Cold weather can be dangerous, especially in outdoor worksites. When your body loses more heat than it can produce, you’re at risk for serious health problems. This condition, called cold stress, can lead to frostbite, hypothermia or trench foot.

Working in winter, icy surfaces and low visibility could cause slips and falls. Poorly ventilated heaters and lack of snow removal equipment training also pose potential hazards.

Employers must take Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cold weather training courses with their employees. To improve workplace safety, OSHA recommends for employers to:

  • Schedule work during the warmest part of the day when possible
  • Monitor workers’ health with the help of a buddy system
  • Allow brief but regular breaks in warm, dry areas
  • Serve warm, nonalcoholic drinks and high-carbohydrate snacks
  • Make sure workers have proper winter gear to prevent bare skin contact with cold metal or wet surfaces
  • Use heaters and other equipment to warm work areas

You have a three-year window to file a workers’ compensation claim in Minnesota, but it’s best to act quickly.

Responding to challenges against your claim

Proving your employer is at fault for cold weather injuries can be tricky. Some symptoms and injuries, such as frostbite, might not appear immediately. Some employers might argue that they took adequate steps to prevent construction accidents.

To strengthen your case against these types of claims, you can:

  • Document your work conditions in detail
  • Keep track of all the times that you’ve had safety concerns over winter hazards
  • Record the condition and adequacy of employer-provided cold weather gear

Consulting a workers’ compensation attorney is advisable if you get hurt because your employer didn’t follow construction site safety rules. They may help you spot where your employer fell short and get fair compensation.

Your safety comes first. Don’t let anyone pressure you into working under dangerous conditions. Know your rights, speak up when they are violated and follow safety protocols.

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