Page 10 - OHS, November/December 2020

COLD STRESS
Managing Cold Stress
Cold stress shouldn’t be a risk you and your team overlook.
BY DEREK SANG
Workers in the oil and gas and electric utility industries frequently face flash fire, arc flash and heat stress hazards. But one hazard that may not be as talked about is cold stress. Cold stress occurs when skin temperature drops, lowering internal body temperatures and disabling the body’s ability to warm itself. It can lead to several medical conditions, including trench foot, chilblains, frostbite and hypothermia.
Warning signs of cold stress include:
■ Shivering
■ Chattering teeth
■ Numbness
■ Stiffness
■ Cold, stinging, aching
■ Loss of coordination
■ Dilated pupils
■ Slurred speech
■ Disorientation and confusion
According to the OSHA General Duty Clause,
the responsibility for worker safety is squarely on the employer. According to Section 5(a)(1):
“Each employer (1) shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees; (2) shall comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act.”
Tips on how you can reduce cold stress for you and your team:
■ Train workers on the appropriate PPE and work practices to reduce cold stress risk.
■ Implement safe work practices.
■ Help workers who are used to working in warm areas build up a tolerance for working in the cold environment.
A layering system allows workers the flexibility to remain safer and more comfortable in a variety of conditions.
■ Schedule maintenance and repair jobs for warmer months.
■ Schedule cold-weather jobs for the warmer parts of the day.
■ Reduce the physical demands of workers.
■ Use relief workers or assign extra workers for long, demanding jobs.
■ Provide workers with warm liquids.
■ Provide workers with warm areas during peak cold periods.
■ Include a thermometer and chemical hot packs in first aid kits.
■ Train workers to avoid touching cold metal surfaces with bare skin.
■ Monitor workers’ physical condition and have them monitor their coworkers.
Another great method to keep workers safe from potential cold stress is to utilize a layering system. A layering system allows workers the flexibility to remain safer and more comfortable in a variety of conditions. The layers should be compliant to the assessed hazard and layered correctly according to industry regulations.
Here are a few critical considerations when layering FR/AR garments:
■ Always layer FR/AR garments underneath FR/ AR outerwear.
■ The arc rating of the outermost FR/AR layer must be sufficient to prevent break open and ignition of any flammable base layer.
■ Non-FR/AR outerwear should never be worn over FR/AR garments.
Cold stress shouldn’t be a risk you and your team overlook. That’s why it’s not only important to incorporate a comprehensive layered PPE program, but also aware of the warning signs of cold stress and how you can reduce the risk.
Derek Sang has been involved with the Flame-Resistant Clothing industry in a variety of roles from the service, manufacturing and garment sides of the business for over 25 years.
Derek has developed and conducted over 250 educational and informational seminars here in the US and Internationally. In his current position as a Technical Training Manager, Derek has developed over 40 hours of training curriculum for Bulwark University.
8 Occupational Health & Safety | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
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