Living and working in Pennsylvania has its many challenges especially when it comes to working outside in frigid temperatures. Preparing your employees to protect themselves against cold weather injuries will help keep them safe and productive.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that prolonged exposure to freezing or even cold temperatures can result in serious injury or potentially death. OSHA’s guide on cold stress states the three most common injuries with the cold are frostbite, hypothermia and trench foot.
Frostbite is the freezing of skin and the underlying tissue. Remember the lower the temperature, the faster frostbite occurs. Frostbite most commonly affects the extremities, such as, one’s hands and feet. In severe cases, amputation may be necessary.
Frostbite symptoms include:
Hypothermia is when body heat is lost faster than it can be replaced. Hypothermia sets in when the human body temperature drops below 95⁰ F.
Hypothermia symptoms include:
Mild Symptoms
Moderate to Severe Symptoms
Trench Foot is caused by prolonged exposure to wet and cold temperatures. To prevent heat loss, the body constricts the blood vessels to shut down circulation in the feet. The skin tissue begins to die because of a lack of oxygen and nutrients and due to the buildup of toxic products.
Trench Foot symptoms include:
For frostbite:
For trench foot:
Employers should train their employees in preventive measures to combat cold stress. Being able to recognize the symptoms of cold stress and how to apply basic first aid is important for every employee to know.
Employers should provide engineering controls to help. An example of this would be to use radiant heaters or shield workers with tarps to prevent overexposure to wind.
Employers need to have cold stress controls and procedures in place as normal practice. An example would be providing warm sweetened drinks, as it is very easy to become dehydrated in cold weather. Give employees breaks often in a warm dry space if possible. Also establish a buddy system so workers can spot early signs of cold stress and if possible, schedule the hardest labor during the warmest hours of the day.
Dressing properly is one of the most important parts of preventing cold stress. The type of fabric used is important. Cotton loses its insulation value when it becomes wet. Wool, silk and most synthetics, on the other hand, retain their insulation even when wet. Wear at least three layers of loose fitting clothes, wear hats, as they reduce the amount of heat lost through your head, wear insulated (possible water resistant) gloves, and wear waterproof and insulated footwear.