 As we transition into the colder months, it’s important to refresh our understanding of cold-weather-related illnesses, how to recognize their symptoms, and the appropriate steps for treatment. Cold weather can pose significant hazards for outdoor workers or those exposed to unheated environments, making preparation and awareness vital. Understanding how to prevent and manage these conditions is key to ensuring worker safety and maintaining productivity in challenging environments. Hypothermia Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it produces it, resulting in an abnormally low body temperature. This condition is dangerous because the affected individual may not notice it happening. Early symptoms include shivering, fatigue, loss of coordination, confusion, and disorientation. Late symptoms include the absence of shivering, blue skin, dilated pupils, slowed pulse and breathing, and loss of consciousness. Alert a supervisor and request medical assistance. Move the victim to a warm room or shelter and remove wet clothing. Warm the core first using blankets or skin-to-skin contact. Provide warm beverages if the victim is conscious. Keep the victim dry and covered with a blanket after warming. If the victim has no pulse, begin CPR, and seek professional medical care promptly. Frostbite Frostbite occurs when skin and underlying tissues freeze due to extreme cold exposure. It most commonly affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes. Severe frostbite can lead to permanent tissue damage or amputation. Symptoms of frostbite include reduced blood flow to hands and feet, numbness, tingling or stinging sensations, aching, and bluish or pale, waxy skin. Move to a warm room as quickly as possible and avoid walking on frostbitten feet or toes. Immerse affected areas in warm (100º-105ºF) water until they appear red and feel warm. Use body heat, such as placing frostbitten fingers under armpits, to warm the area. Avoid rubbing or massaging the frostbitten area and do not use heating pads, stoves, or fireplaces to rewarm, as numb areas can easily burn. Seek professional medical care promptly. Trench Foot Trench foot, also known as immersion foot, is caused by prolonged exposure of wet feet to cold temperatures. This condition leads to heat loss, restricted blood flow, and potential tissue damage. Symptoms of trench foot include reddening skin, numbness, tingling pain, leg cramps, swelling, blisters or ulcers, and gangrene in severe cases, which turns the foot dark purple, blue, or gray. To treat trench foot, remove shoes or boots and wet socks. Gently clean and dry the feet and rewarm them slowly to avoid pain and swelling. Avoid walking on the feet to prevent tissue damage and elevate the affected foot above the heart. Seek professional medical care promptly. Chilblains Chilblains are caused by repeated exposure to temperatures ranging from freezing to 60ºF. The cold damages capillaries in the skin, leading to inflammation and irritation. Symptoms of chilblains include redness, itching, possible blistering, inflammation, skin color changes (red or blue patches), and ulceration in severe cases. Avoid scratching the affected area and rewarm the skin gently without massaging or applying direct heat. Apply corticosteroid creams to relieve itching and swelling and keep blisters and ulcers clean and covered. Employer’s Responsibilities Employers should train supervisors and workers to recognize and treat cold-related illnesses and injuries. They must provide training in a language and vocabulary workers understand, ensure access to warm areas and dry clothing, and encourage regular breaks to warm up. A buddy system should be implemented to monitor workers in cold conditions, and prompt medical attention must be provided for any signs of illness or injury. Worker Responsibilities Workers should take regular breaks to warm up and monitor their physical condition and those of coworkers. Staying hydrated by drinking water and warm beverages and consuming high-carbohydrate snacks helps maintain energy. Workers should avoid direct contact with cold metal or wet surfaces, report symptoms immediately to supervisors, and carry extra clothing in case of wet work conditions. Wearing layers of loose clothing for insulation, with inner layers made of wool or synthetic fabrics and outer layers resistant to wind and water, is essential. Extremities should be protected by wearing hats, gloves, socks, and boots. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Winter Weather Preparedness Raken, Winter Safety for Construction Workers. Toolbox Talks, Checklists, and Documentation The Center for Construction Research and Training, Working in Cold Weather This Safety Flash was contributed by Jason Farris, Executive Vice President of Safety Compliance, Cooper Steel in cooperation with SEAA’s Safety & Education Committee. It’s designed to keep members informed about ongoing safety issues and to provide suggestions for reducing risk. Best practices are gathered from a variety of sources. They may be more or less stringent than individual corporate policies and are not intended to be an official recommendation from SEAA. Always get approval and direction from your company officers on any new practice or procedure as these best practices may not work for all situations.
Everyone benefits when a worker avoids injury. Submit your ideas for Safety Flash to [email protected]. Comments are closed.
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