Employee Safety Winter weather cold stress By Geoff McPherson-WYDOT Employee Safety We all know how extreme the winter weather patterns can be in Wyoming. Planning early for the weather could lead to a decrease in injuries caused by exposure to freezing conditions. Employee Safety recommends early assessment of potential exposures and documentation in the applicable JSAs, along with safety briefings, significantly increase the safety of all employees.
Cold Stress Cold stress occurs by driving down the skin temperature, and eventually the internal body temperature. When the body is unable to warm itself, serious cold-related illnesses and injuries may occur, and permanent tissue damage and death may result. Four factors contribute to cold stress: cold temperatures, high or cold wind, dampness and cold water. A cold environment forces the body to work harder to maintain its core temperature. Cold air, water and snow all draw heat from the body. So, while it is obvious that below freezing conditions, combined with inadequate clothing could bring about cold stress, it is important to understand that it can also be brought about by temperatures in the 50’s coupled with rain and/or wind. What are some physical signs of cold stress?
Immersion/Trench Foot Trench foot is an injury of the feet caused by prolonged exposure to wet and cold conditions. Symptoms of trench foot are reddening skin, tingling, pain, swelling, leg cramps, numbness and blisters. First Aid • Remove wet shoes/boots and wet socks; • Dry the feet and avoid working on them; and • Keep affected feet elevated and avoid walking. Get medical attention.
Hypothermia occurs when the normal body temperature (98.6°F) drops to less than 95°F. Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or immersion in cold water. Symptoms of hypothermia are: • Mild Hypothermia: Alert but Shivering; and • Moderate to Severe Hypothermia: shivering stops; confusion; slurred speech; heart rate/breathing slow; loss of consciousness; death. First Aid • Call 911 immediately in an emergency; • To prevent further heat loss, move the worker to a warm place. Change to dry clothes and cover the body,including the head and neck, with blankets and with something to block the cold (i.e., tarp, garbage bag). Do not cover the face. • If medical help is more than 30 minutes away give warm, sweetened drinks, if alert. Apply heat packs to the armpits, sides of chest, neck and groin.
Preventing Cold Stress Planning for work in cold weather is the most important defense in preventing cold stress. Wearing appropriate clothing and being aware of how your body is reacting to the cold are important to preventing cold stress. Avoiding alcohol, certain medications and smoking can also help to minimize the risk. Protective Clothing Wearing the right clothing is the most important way to avoid cold stress. The type of fabric also makes a difference. Cotton loses its insulation value when it becomes wet. Wool, on the other hand, retains its insulated qualities even when wet.
Work Schedules
Frostbite Frostbite is caused by the freezing of the skin and tissues. Frostbite can cause permanent damage to the body, and in severe cases can lead to amputation. Frostbite typically affects the extremities, particularly the face, ears, fingers and toes. The symptoms of frostbite are reddening skin developing gray/white patches in the fingers, toes, nose, or ear lobes. Tingling, aching, a loss of feeling, firm/hard skin and blisters may occur in the affected areas. First Aid • Protect the frostbitten area. Wrap loosely in a dry cloth and protect the area from contact until medical help arrives; • Do not rub the affected area, because rubbing causes damage to the skin and tissue; • Do not apply snow, water or break blisters; and • Do not try to re-warm the frostbitten area before getting medical help.
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November 2021
Employers should provide engineering controls Engineering controls can be effective in reducing the risk of cold stress. For example, radiant heaters may be used to warm workplaces like outdoor security stations. If possible, employers should shield work areas from drafts or wind to reduce wind chill. Employers should use engineering controls to protect workers from other winter weather related hazards, for example, aerial lifts or ladders can be used for safely applying de-icing materials to roofs, to protect workers from the hazard of falling through sky lights. Employers should implement safe work practices Providing workers with the proper tools and equipment to do their jobs; Developing work plans that identify potential hazards and the safety measures that will be used to protect workers; Limiting the amount of time spent outdoors on extremely cold days;
