How Cold is Too Cold?

According to OSHA, cold stress can occur when the body is unable to warm itself. This can lead to tissue damage and possibly death.

Four factors contribute to cold stress:

• Cold air temperatures
• High wind
• Dampness of the air
• Contact with cold water or cold surfaces

A cold environment forces the body to work harder to maintain its temperature. Cold air, water, and snow all draw heat from the body.

OSHA also points out that while below-freezing conditions and inadequate protection can bring about cold stress, problems can also occur with much higher temperatures, even in the 50s, when coupled with rain and wind.

What happens in the cold? Energy is used to warm the body’s internal temperature. Over time, the body will begin to shift blood from the extremities and outer skin to the core (the chest and abdomen). This allows exposed skin and the extremities to cool rapidly, increasing the risk of problems.

The most common cold-induced problems are hypothermia, frostbite, and trench foot.

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Hypothermia occurs when body heat is lost faster than it can be replaced. When the core body temperature drops from the normal 98.6°F to around 95°F, symptoms generally begin, including uncontrollable shivering, weakness, confusion, drowsiness, and pale, cold skin.

Frostbite occurs when the skin actually freezes and loses water. In severe cases, amputation of the frostbitten area may be required. Frostbite usually affects the extremities. The affected body part will be cold, tingling, stinging, or aching, followed by numbness. The skin turns red in color, then purple, then white, and is cold to the touch. In severe cases, there may be blisters.

Trench foot, or immersion foot, is caused when the feet are immersed in cold water at temperatures above freezing for long periods of time. It is similar to frostbite, but considered less severe. Symptoms include tingling, itching, or a burning sensation.

Coping with the Cold

Here are some cold weather safety recommendations for employees exposed to the elements on the job during the winter. Most apply equally to employees who engage in recreational or other outdoor activities on their own time.

• Wear at least three layers of clothing—an outer layer, such as Gortex, to break the wind; a middle layer of down or wool to absorb sweat and provide insulation; and an inner layer of cotton or synthetic weave to allow ventilation.
• Wear a hat. Considerable heat escapes the body from the head.
• Have a change of dry clothing available in case work clothes become wet.
• Wear loose rather than tight clothing for better ventilation.
• Follow safe work practices when exposed to cold, including drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration, working during the warmer parts of the day when possible, taking breaks out of the cold, working in pairs, and consuming warm, high-calorie food.
• Use engineering controls such as radiant heaters, shielding work areas from drafts or wind, and insulating material on equipment handles.
• Be able to identify symptoms of cold-related problems.

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Welcome to the Employee Training Center

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Courses keep participants interested with engaging audio, built-in exercises, and key points to remember. At the completion of every course, individuals take a quiz designed to test for competency in all the course material presented. Quiz results and course completion times are automatically recorded.

Every course can be tailored with supporting and custom documents. BLR provides supporting documents for courses that include complete slide show notes and the answer key for the included quiz. As the administrator, you have the option of displaying uploaded documents and requiring review before the session begins. This is especially useful for company policies or worksite-specific information. Supporting materials can be added, edited, or removed at any time.

With only a few minutes’ setup, you company will have a complete Web-based training program with professionally developed courses, employee testing capabilities, and systematic documentation of employee training sessions and scores. And remember, BLR^® Employee Training Center  courses can be delivered at individual employee desks, in computer centers, at training kiosks, or even in a classroom.

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We urge you to sign up for a no-obligation demo by visiting the award-winning Employee Training Center. Or, feel free to call our customer service people toll-free at 866-696-4827.

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