Cold Stress

Working in severe cold environments may create a physical hazard when the body is unable to warm itself. Serious cold-related illnesses and injuries such as hypothermia and frostbite may lead to permanent tissue damage and even death.

To minimize risks of working in cold, wet, or windy conditions such as open cabs, projects near large bodies of water, and buildings open to the wind:

• Make sure workers, especially those that work in exposed locations or elevated platforms, understand wind-chill factor
• Make sure that workers are medically fit to work in excessive cold, mainly those subject to the risk ƒ factors emphasized above.
• Make sure that workers understand the importance of high-caloric foods when working in cold ƒ environments. Warm sweet drinks and soups should be arranged at the work site to maintain caloric intake and fluid volume. Coffee intake should be discouraged because it increases water loss and blood flow to extremities.
• If possible, personnel working in isolated cold environments should have backup.ƒ
• Offer hot drinks and frequent breaks under exceptionally cold working conditions.

Select protective clothing to suit the cold, the job, and the level of physical activity:

Wear several layers of clothing rather than one thick layer. Air captured between layers acts as an ƒ insulator. Workers in areas that require fire-retardant clothing (FRC) should make sure that the outer layer is fire retardant.

There is not an absolute temperature at which hypothermia can set in; therefore, offer advice to ƒ employees and contractor to change into dry clothing when their clothing becomes wet or soaked when working in cold conditions.

Encourage the use cold-weather equipment to prevent heat loss from the head and to protect ears. This equipment should allow concurrent use of required PPE such as a hard hat. FRC, balaclavas (ski masks) or other face covers may also be necessary under certain conditions.

To prevent contact frostbite, workers should wear insulated gloves when surfaces within reach ƒ (especially metallic surfaces) are at freezing temperatures or below. Workers should be warned to avoid skin contact with these surfaces.

Tight-fitting footwear restricts blood flow. Footwear should be large enough to allow wearing either ƒ one thick or two thin pairs of socks. Dressed in too many socks may tighten fit and damage rather than help.

Employees who get hot while at work should open their jackets but keep hats and gloves on.

ƒManual dexterity is essential to safety and production. When fine work is to be performed in cold environments, hands should be kept warm with equipment such as warm air jets, radiant heaters (fuel burning or electric), or contact warming plates. Personnel using this equipment must adhere to Hot Work guidelines.

Metal handles of tools and control bars should be covered by thermal insulating material for temperatures below 30.2˚F (-1˚C). Tools and machine controls to be used in cold conditions should be designed for operation by gloved hands.