Page 50 - OHS, October 2022

WINTER HAZARDS
Managing Cold Stress with the Proper PPE
No matter the type of work, any worker exposed to cold temperatures faces risks.
ABY THIAGO ZAMBOTTI
s the seasons turnover to the colder months, safety managers transition their mindset from managing heat stress for their workers to the opposite phenomenon— cold stress. Cold stress refers to environmental
conditions (such as air temperature, windchill temperature and rain) in which body heat is lost faster than the body can produce it.1 Low temperatures and high wind speeds that are common during the winter months are a dangerous combination. These weather conditions expedite the rate at which heat leaves the body, increasing the risk of cold stress for outdoor workers.
Workers who may be affected by cold stress are wide ranging, from those on construction sites to oil and gas operators performing maintenance work. According to the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH), extreme cold weather is a dangerous situation that can bring on health emergencies.2 And what is considered cold stress and its effects can vary across different areas of the country, making it critical for employers to recognize their employees’ working environments. For example, in parts of the country relatively unfamiliar to cold winter weather, near freezing temperatures are considered factors for cold stress. No matter the type of work, any worker exposed to cold temperatures faces risks. Two of the most common kinds of cold stress include hypothermia and frostbite.
The National Weather Service states that hypothermia is the
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most common cause of winter weather fatalities and occurs when body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.3 In 2019, about 1,300 people in the U.S. died of hypothermia.4 Symptoms of hypothermia include severe shivering, confusion, slurred speech, slow heart rate or slow breathing and loss of consciousness.
Cold-related disorders such as hypothermia and frostbite are real risks workers can face on the job unless safety measures are taken seriously. The good news is that there are steps workers can take to keep themselves protected, including working during the warmest part of the day, keeping active, staying hydrated, avoiding prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures, covering all exposed skin and dressing in warm layers. In addition, OSHA recommends workers prevent cold stress with appropriate PPE.5 Depending on work conditions, it is important for employers to consider providing the following PPE to keep their workers safe in extreme temperatures.
Layered Outerwear
First and foremost, workers need to make sure they are wearing layers of warm clothing. But some workers may wonder how many layers and which materials are best. As a rule of thumb, protective clothing should be selected according to temperature, weather conditions such as wind speed, the duration of outdoor activity and the level of intensity of the job that will be performed. This is
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