26.2 Cold Stress Hazards #
Control of cold stress situations should follow the procedures outlined in this plan. Implement the appropriate control measures for the specific work condition, from among the following possible control methods.
Hypothermia, frostbite, trench foot, redness, swelling, and cracking of exposed skin are all illnesses and injuries caused by cold stress.
Hypothermia occurs when the body’s temperature becomes abnormally low. A body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making it difficult to think clearly or move well, and can eventually lead to death.
Frostbite is an injury to the body caused by freezing tissues. It can cause permanent damage and in severe cases, lead to amputation.
Trench foot is an injury of the feet resulting from prolonged exposure to wet and cold conditions. The wet feet lose heat faster and the circulation begins to shutdown, resulting in the skin tissue beginning to die. Redness and swelling are caused by the repeated exposure of skin to temperatures just above freezing to as high as 60°F. The cold exposure causes damage to the groups of small blood vessels in the skin. This damage is permanent and the redness and itching will return with additional exposure.
26.3 Cold Stress Controls #
Administrative controls #
Employers should take the following steps to protect workers from cold stress:
- Schedule maintenance and repair jobs in cold areas for warmer months.
- Schedule cold jobs for the warmer part of the day.
- Reduce the physical demands of workers.
- Use relief workers or assign extra workers for long, demanding jobs.
- Provide warm liquids to workers.
- Provide warm areas for use during break periods.
- Monitor workers who are at risk of cold stress.
- Provide cold stress training that includes information about:
- Worker risk
- Prevention
- Symptoms
- The importance of monitoring yourself and coworkers for symptoms
- Treatment
- Personal protective equipment
PPE for Cold Stress #
Employees should wear several layers of loose clothing. Avoid wearing tight fitting clothing that reduces blood circulation or restricts movement. Make sure to protect the ears, face, hands and feet in extremely cold weather
Wearing insulative PPE when available can be protective in cold environments if the PPE remains dry. Some examples of cold protective PPE are insulated coveralls, boots, and gloves. Highly insulating PPE worn while performing heavy work will result in a warm microclimate which can induce sweating. Once the physical activity stops, the sweat begins to evaporate causing further cooling which can contribute to cold stress. This should be considered when selecting PPE.
Administrative controls #
Workers should avoid exposure to extremely cold temperatures when possible. When cold environments or temperatures cannot be avoided, workers should follow these recommendations to protect themselves from cold stress:
- Move into warm locations during work breaks; limit the amount of time outside on extremely cold days.
- Carry cold weather gear, such as extra socks, gloves, hats, jacket, blankets, a change of clothes and a thermos of hot liquid.
- Include a thermometer and chemical hot packs in your first aid kit.
- Avoid touching cold metal surfaces with bare skin.
- Monitor your physical condition and that of your coworkers.
