With extremely low temperatures predicted for the rest of this week, spending any amount of time outdoors will require extreme caution to avoid cold-related injuries. The following post (lightly edited for blog presentation) comes to us from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Managers and supervisors of workers whose tasks take them outdoors or into unheated structures should carefully review these guidelines.
Cold related illnesses can slowly overcome an individual who has been chilled by cold temperature, strong winds or wet clothing. You need to recognize the environmental and workplace conditions that can lead to cold-induced injuries and illnesses. Here are some basic ways to protect your workers.
- Proper clothing for cold, wet and windy conditions must be on hand. Hats and gloves in addition to proper outer ware is needed.
- Frequent short breaks in warm dry shelters will allow the body to warm up.
- Work during the warmest part of the day.
- Avoid exhaustion or fatigue because a significant amount of energy is needed to keep your body warm.
- Drink warm, sweet drinks, not caffeine or alcohol.
- Eat warm, high calorie foods.
- Individuals with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension have increased risk in cold weather.
OSHA has a workplace safety and health guide that identifies risk factors and prevention measures for workers exposed to hazardous temperatures. This guide has a great graphic showing what dangers workers face as the temperatures drop. You can get the guide at http://www.osha.gov/publications/osha3156.pdf or see the diagram and information below.
Frostbite (Medical Emergency)
What Happens to the Body:
Freezing in deep layers of skin and tissue; pale, waxy-white skin color; skin becomes hard and numb; usually affects the fingers, hands, toes, feet, ears, and nose.
What Should Be Done: (land temperatures)
- Move the person to a warm dry area. Don’t leave the person alone.
- Remove any wet or tight clothing that may cut off blood flow to the affected area.
- Do not rub the affected area, because rubbing causes damage to the skin and tissue.
- Gently place the affected area in a warm (105°F) water bath and monitor the water temperature to slowly warm the tissue. Don’t pour warm water directly on the affected area because it will warm the tissue too fast causing tissue damage. Warming takes about 25-40 minutes.
- After the affected area has been warmed, it may become puffy and blister. The affected area may have a burning feeling or numbness. When normal feeling, movement, and skin color have returned, the affected area should be dried and wrapped to keep it warm. Note: If there is a chance the affected area may get cold again, do not warm the skin. If the skin is warmed and then becomes cold again, it will cause severe tissue damage.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Hypothermia (Medical Emergency)
What Happens to the Body:
Normal body temperature (98.6°F/37°C) drops to or below 95°F (35°C); fatigue or drowsiness; uncontrolled shivering; cool bluish skin; slurred speech; clumsy movements; irritable, irrational, or confused behavior.
What Should Be Done: (land temperatures)
- Call for emergency help (i.e., Ambulance or Call 911).
- Move the person to a warm, dry area. Don’t leave the person alone. Remove any wet clothing and replace with warm, dry clothing or wrap the person in blankets.
- Have the person drink warm, sweet drinks (sugar water or sports-type drinks) if they are alert. Avoid drinks with caffeine (coffee, tea, or hot chocolate) or alcohol.
- Have the person move their arms and legs to create muscle heat. If they are unable to do this, place warm bottles or hot packs in the arm pits, groin, neck, and head areas. Do not rub the person’s body or place them in warm water bath. This may stop their heart.
What Should Be Done: (water temperatures)
- Call for emergency help (Ambulance or Call 911). Body heat is lost up to 25 times faster in water.
- Do not remove any clothing. Button, buckle, zip, and tighten any collars, cuffs, shoes, and hoods because the layer of trapped water closest to the body provides a layer of insulation that slows the loss of heat. Keep the head out of the water and put on a hat or hood.
- Get out of the water as quickly as possible or climb on anything floating. Do not attempt to swim unless a floating object or another person can be reached because swimming or other physical activity uses the body’s heat and reduces survival time by about 50 percent.
- If getting out of the water is not possible, wait quietly and conserve body heat by folding arms across the chest, keeping thighs together, bending knees, and crossing ankles. If another person is in the water, huddle together with chests held closely.
How to Protect Workers
- Recognize the environmental and workplace conditions that lead to potential cold-induced illnesses and injuries.
- Learn the signs and symptoms of cold-induced illnesses/injuries and what to do to help the worker.
- Train the workforce about cold-induced illnesses and injuries.
- Select proper clothing for cold, wet, and windy conditions. Layer clothing to adjust to changing environmental temperatures. Wear a hat and gloves, in addition to underwear that will keep water away from the skin (polypropylene).
- Take frequent short breaks in warm dry shelters to allow the body to warm up.
- Perform work during the warmest part of the day.
- Avoid exhaustion or fatigue because energy is needed to keep muscles warm.
- Use the buddy system (work in pairs).
- Drink warm, sweet beverages (sugar water, sports-type drinks). Avoid drinks with caffeine (coffee, tea, or hot chocolate) or alcohol.
- Eat warm, high-calorie foods like hot pasta dishes.
Workers Are at Increased Risk When…
- They have predisposing health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension.
- They take certain medication (check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacy and ask if any medicines you are taking affect you while working in cold environments).
- They are in poor physical condition, have a poor diet, or are older.
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