Winter Workplace Safety: Must-Know Essentials

You might not regularly worry about workplace hazards, but they can present a new challenge once the weather takes a turn for the worst. An often-overlooked hazard is temperature, but that is no reason to underestimate its danger. Cold temperatures are especially dangerous; for every one death attributed to heat, there are four attributed to cold. If you work in a near or below-freezing environment, you should be aware of cold stress. Read more below to find out about cold stressors and how you can avoid or mitigate them.

Everything to Know About Cold Stress

When the body cannot create as much heat as it is losing, this is a condition known as cold stress. If workers are exposed to cold stress, even to the smallest degree, it can lead to serious illness, injuries, and tissue damage. Cold temperatures may not necessarily be below-freezing, as hypothermia can occur even when the temperature is over 40° F due to factors like rain, perspiration, or cold water.

Common Forms of Cold Stress

Cold stress is influenced by four factors: cold temperatures, high wind, dampness, and cold water. Employers should be aware of the wind chill temperature in order to properly monitor and address the exposure risk to their workforce and make plans for safe work practices. Wind chill doesn’t present itself as easily as thermometer readings: that’s why it’s essential to keep an eye on employees' physical health, especially those new to the job or those who haven't had a break from cold weather.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a condition where the body's internal temperature drops below 95°F due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Symptoms include uncontrollable shivering, loss of coordination, confusion, slurred speech, slow heart rate/breathing, unconsciousness, and potentially death. These symptoms indicate that the body is losing heat despite trying to rewarm itself, making it dangerous for the victim.

In case of hypothermia, call 911 immediately and move the victim to a warm, dry area. Replace wet clothing with dry ones and wrap the body in blankets with a vapor barrier. If medical help is more than 30 minutes away, give warm, sweetened drinks if alert, but never to an unconscious person. Place warm bottles or hot packs in the armpits, chest, and groin.

Immersion/Trench Foot

Trench foot is a non-freezing foot injury caused by prolonged exposure to wet and cold conditions, resulting in reddening skin, tingling, pain, swelling, leg cramps, numbness, and blisters. More a result of a combination of wet and cold, it can even occur in temperatures as high as 60°F. In the event of immersion/trench foot, call 911 immediately. Remove wet shoes/boots and socks, dry the affected feet and then elevate them, avoid walking, and seek medical attention.

Frostbite

Frostbite is a serious cold-related illness characterized by the freezing of skin and tissues, causing permanent damage and potentially leading to amputation. It is more common in individuals with reduced blood circulation or who are not adequately dressed for extreme cold temperatures. Symptoms include reddened skin, gray/white patches, tingling, aching, and blisters.

Frostbite first aid involves protecting the frostbitten area, avoiding rubbing, applying snow or water, and breaking blisters. Rewarming the area before medical help is safe when correctly done as it prevents further tissue damage, but avoid using hot or overly warm water. Warm, sweetened drinks can be given if alert, but not alcohol. Avoid using heating pads or warm water, as improper rewarming can cause more damage.

High-Risk Groups for Cold Stress

Cold stress can affect individuals working in cold areas or exposed to extreme cold, such as construction workers, snow removal workers, law enforcement, and firefighters. Homeless individuals, those in inadequately insulated or unheated spaces, and outdoor enthusiasts like hikers and hunters are also at high risk for cold stress.

Strategies for Preventing Cold Stress

The first line of defense in preventing cold stress is dressing appropriately. But there’s more to it than throwing on boots and a coat. When cold environments or temperatures can’t be avoided, there are things workers can do to prevent cold stress:

• Wear at least three layers of loose-fitting clothing. Layers provide better insulation. Effective layering includes:
  • An inner layer that holds in more body heat, for example, wool, silk or synthetic materials (polypropylene). These materials are also effective at keeping moisture away from the body
  • A middle layer should also be wool or synthetic to provide insulation even when wet
  • An outer layer that allows some ventilation to prevent overheating while keeping moisture and wind at bay
• Avoid tight clothing because it reduces blood circulation. Circulation is important because warm blood is how the body transports heat to the extremities
• Find a hat that will cover your ears. A hat reduces heat loss from the head and helps maintain whole body temperature
• Insulated gloves with a water-resistant shell if needed
• Insulated and waterproof boots to keep feet warm and dry
• Proper training in the warning signs of cold stress and other risks
• Keep yourself dry in the winter because humidity or moisture, such as perspiration, can quicken the body's loss of heat.
• Have additional clothes on hand, including underwear, in case you need to change after becoming wet.
• Employ safe work procedures, appropriate engineering controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE) that has been supplied by your employer.

Protect Your Team from Cold Stress

Employees at risk should know about cold stress concerns and follow safety precautions. Companies should evaluate their employees' exposure risk and schedule safe work operations around that. OSHAcampus provides OSHA-compliant training programs, such as OSHA 10 and OSHA 30-Hour Training, to enhance worker safety and inform staff members about the risks associated with working in cold environments. Check out our catalog today and get started!