Page 24 - OHS, November/December 2020

PPE: HAND PROTECTION
Cold and Windy Calls for Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment
Understanding weather conditions is just the first step in finding appropriate PPE for employees this winter.
BY MARY PADRON
Keeping warm is a basic need that all of us share. For those who work in cold temperatures, the need to keep your hands warm and protected is a major concern. If
ignored, this concern can turn into serious health risks like frostbite and hypothermia.
People who work outdoors, such as utility workers, snow cleanup crews, construction workers, police officers, firefighters, baggage handlers and airplane mechanics are examples of workers who are often exposed to cold stress. Those who work in walk-in freezers at food processing plants are also at risk.
OSHA says, “Outdoor workers exposed to cold
and windy conditions are at risk of cold stress; both air temperature and wind speed affect how cold they feel. As wind speed increases, it causes the cold air temperature to feel even colder, increasing the risk of cold stress to exposed workers.”
Risk factors for cold stress include:
■ Wetness/dampness, dressing improperly, and exhaustion
■ Predisposing health conditions such as hypertension, hypothyroidism, and diabetes
■ Poor physical conditioning
■ Wind chill
It’s easy to see how below freezing conditions
and inadequate PPE can cause cold stress, but cold stress can also occur at temperatures in the 50s when coupled with rain and/or wind. It is very important to be aware of wind chill in any cold prevention program. If safety pros don’t factor in wind chill, your cold stress strategy will miss the mark and workers’ health could be seriously compromised.
Wind Chill Resources for Safety Professionals
According to OSHA, “Wind Chill is the term used to describe the rate of heat loss from the human body resulting from the combined effect of low air temperature and wind speed. The Wind Chill Temperature is a single value that takes both air temperature and wind speed into account. For example, when the air temperature is 40 degrees and the wind speed is 35 mph, the wind chill temperature is 28 degrees; this measurement is the actual effect of the environmental cold on the exposed skin.”
National Weather Service for Continuous Weather Information
Since wind chill plays a significant role in managing cold stress, here are two resources to help you determine weather and wind chill:
1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information from the nearest National Weather Service office.1
2. National Weather Radio (NWR) broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It also provides information when wind
18 Occupational Health & Safety | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
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