Cold injury compensation claim solicitors

What is a cold injury?

Cold injuries are injuries that occur because of working in cold or wet conditions. When the body's core temperature falls below its normal level for prolonged periods, the blood vessels in the extremities constrict. This prevents a further drop in internal body temperature by exposing less blood to the external conditions, but it also results in the extremities becoming even colder and injured as a result. 

There are two types: freezing cold injuries and non-freezing cold injuries. Freezing cold injuries include frostnip and frostbite, which typically occur in the hands and feet. Non-freezing cold injuries include trench foot and chilblain. These also commonly occur in the hands and feet but can also affect other parts of the body.

What are the differences between freezing and non-freezing cold injuries?

The main difference between freezing and non-freezing cold injuries is the temperature they occur in. Freezing cold injuries occur when the temperature is below freezing point (0°C), whereas non-freezing cold injuries occur when the temperature is just above freezing point and typically involve exposure for longer periods.

Another key difference is that non-freezing injuries aren't limited to the hands and feet but can also occur in other areas of the body.

Who's at risk of sustaining cold injuries?

Cold injuries can occur whenever you're working for prolonged periods in cold and wet conditions. People who work in certain professions are also more at risk of sustaining cold injuries. These people include:

• Military personnel
• Offshore workers
• Farmers
• Butchers
• Meat processors

What are the symptoms of cold injuries?

Cold injuries usually affect the body's extremities, such as the hands and feet. The symptoms of cold injuries could include:

• Pain 
• Swelling 
• Blisters 
• Discolouration 
• Excessive sweating
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Paresthesia, or a feeling of burning, itching, prickling, tingling or numbness of the skin 

What are the long-term risks of cold injuries?

Cold injuries can become serious rapidly. If they aren't identified and treated quickly, they can cause long-term damage to the body. 

In extreme cases, they can even have permanent consequences such as amputation or the inability to move the injured area properly. This can affect your ability to do your job and therefore result in financial loss. A cold injury claim could provide you with the compensation you need to protect yourself from this.

Who is responsible if I work in a cold environment? 

Your employer is responsible for your safety if you work in a cold environment and there's a risk you could sustain a cold injury. If you work in the military, the Ministry of Defence is responsible.

Your employer is responsible for:

• Assessing the risk of cold injuries occurring in the work environment
• Ensuring you work in cold and wet conditions as little as possible
• Providing the right clothing and equipment to do your work safely, including boots, socks and gloves
• Being able to properly identify and treat cold injuries
• Conducting regular inspections for signs of cold injuries developing
• Allowing you enough time to warm and dry your body when working in cold and wet conditions

Am I eligible to make a cold injury compensation claim?

If you believe that you sustained your cold injury because of your employer's negligence, you could be eligible to make a compensation claim on a no win no fee basis. The best way to find out if you're eligible is to get in touch with our team on for a free, no-obligation consultation. 

You'll need to tell us the details of your cold injury, how it was sustained and how it's affected you. We understand how distressing it can be to think and talk about what happened, so rest assured that we'll listen to you with the utmost professionalism and compassion.

Once we understand your situation, we'll be able to tell you if we think you have a claim. We won't pressure you to go ahead with the cold injury claim - it'll be completely your decision.

What should I do if I've sustained a cold injury at work?

Seeking immediate medical attention is the first thing you should do after sustaining a cold injury at work, even if you aren't completely certain it is a cold injury. You need a medical professional to examine the injury as soon as possible, as the effects can be permanent if they aren't treated quickly enough. Other steps you should take include:

• Ensuring the details of the injury are recorded in an accident nook
• Informing your manager of the injury
• Obtaining the details of any witnesses who were present when the injury occurred
• Taking photographic evidence of the injury

How much cold injury compensation could I receive?

Each cold injury claim is different, so it's difficult to say precisely how much compensation you could receive. The exact amount of compensation depends on several factors, including whether your cold injury is freezing or non-freezing and how severe it is. 

Compensation amounts are split into two categories:

1. General damages: Based on the physical and psychological suffering your injury has caused you.
2. Special damages: Based on the financial losses you've incurred because of your injury, including loss of earnings, medical expenses and travel costs. 

Compensation amounts for general damages are suggested in the Judicial College Guidelines.

Feel free to use our compensation calculator for a rough estimate of how much compensation you could receive for your cold injury claim.