Cold Stress
Cold, wet and windy conditions pull heat from your body faster than it can make it. Cold stress also makes hands clumsy and slows thinking, which leads to other injuries.
- Construction
- General Industry
Cold illnesses
| Condition | Signs | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Hypothermia | Shivering, then confusion, slurred speech, clumsiness, drowsiness; shivering may stop when severe | Call 911. Move to a warm place, remove wet clothes, warm the center of the body with blankets. Give warm sweet drinks only if fully alert. |
| Frostbite | Numbness, white or grayish-yellow, waxy or hard skin, usually fingers, toes, ears, nose | Get medical help. Warm gently; don’t rub. Don’t rewarm if it could refreeze. |
| Trench foot | Red, swollen, numb or painful feet after long wet, cold exposure | Remove wet boots and socks, dry and elevate feet, get medical care |
Prevention
- Dress in layers: a wicking base layer, an insulating middle layer, and a wind- and water-resistant outer layer.
- Wear an insulated hard hat liner, insulated waterproof boots, and gloves. Bring spares and change wet socks and gloves.
- Take warm-up breaks in heated areas.
- Drink warm, sweet, non-alcoholic drinks and eat regularly.
- Use the buddy system to watch for signs in each other.
- Watch the wind chill, not just the temperature.
Heaters: fuel-burning heaters in enclosed areas cause carbon monoxide poisoning. See Temporary Heaters.
Standards & references
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