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COLD-INJURY PREVENTION SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
During the winter months, outdoor workers face an additional occupational hazard -exposure to the cold.
Some health problems can arise including:
- Frostbite
- Trench foot
- Hypothermia
- Frostbite / Frosting
Frostbite happens when skin tissue freezes, and cells deteriorated results.
The following areas of the human body could affect:
- Fingers
- Toes
- Cheeks
- Nose
- Ears
The symptoms of frostbite include:
- An uncomfortable sensation of coldness.
- There may be a tingling,
- Stinging,
- Aching feeling followed by numbness.
What Frostbite requires emergency medical care?
- If you think you may have frostbite, get out of the cold ASAP.
- If you cannot get medical help immediately and there's no risk that the area might be refrozen before you get help, warm the affected area as you would for frosting.
- The frosting is the first stage of frostbite; numb skin that has turned white.
- Get out of the cold ASAP.
- If your clothes are wet, change them into dry clothing.
- Immerse the affected area in warm water (100º to 105º Fahrenheit) to thaw the frozen Tissue.
- Do now not use hotter water, as this can burn your skin. If warm water isn't always to be had, heat the affected region with frame heat. For example, heat your arms by tucking them into your armpits.
- Warm your nostril, ears, or face by covering them with dry palms.
- Be careful to avoid rubbing frostbitten areas because this can lead to greater tissue injury. If there is a chance of refreezing, do not rewarm the affected areas.
- Avoid reheating with heaters or stoves as burns and damage can occur to numb skin.
Trench foot
- Trench foot can be due to long and non-stop exposure to a wet and cold environment over several days or immersion in water.
- Trench foot occurs in cold temperature, but not freezing temperature; there is no actual freezing of the skin.
Symptoms include:
- A tingling and/or itching sensation,
- Pain,
- Swelling.
- Blisters may form and be followed by the death of skin tissue and ulceration.
The first useful resource treatment for trench foot is identical to the treatment for frostbite and consists of:
- Moving the sufferer to a heat place.
- Treat the affected part with warm water (102°-110°F) or warm packs.
- Arranging mattress relaxation in warm surroundings and obtaining clinical help as soon as viable.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia affects by the modern lack of body heat with prolonged exposure to cold. Hypothermia happens when the frame receives cold and loses warmness quicker than the body could make it. Hypothermia is much more likely to arise while you are exposed to bloodless air, water, wind, or rain. Body heat loss is expanded more hastily when a person is moist due to sweat or running in a moist environment. The first signs are uncontrollable shivering and a feeling of cold. As the frame's temperature keeps dropping, an individual can end up stressed, careless, and disoriented (check for stumbles, mumbles, grumbles, and fumbles). Individuals experiencing slight hypothermia need to be moved to heat, dry shelter. Removing wet garb and making use of heat blankets for insulation decrease in addition heat loss. Warm, nonalcoholic, caffeine-unfastened drinks can be presented. More excessive instances of hypothermia require in-depth hospital treatment. Hypothermia is an emergency situation and can quickly lead to unconsciousness and loss of life. Hypothermia can arise at temperatures of 50F or better in moist and windy weather, or in case you are in 60F to 70F water.
Preventing Cold-Related Disorders
- Dress appropriately. Wear layers: an outer layer to break the wind and allow some ventilation (like Gortex or nylon); a middle layer of wool, down, or synthetic pile to absorb sweat and maintain insulating properties when wet; and an internal layer of cotton or artificial weave to allow ventilation and escape of perspiration. Keep a change of clothes available.
- Protect your feet, hands, head, and face. Keep the top included (as much as forty per cent of frame warmness may be misplaced whilst the pinnacle is uncovered). Wear footgear that protects against bloodless and dampness.
- Avoid wearing dirty or greasy clothing because such garments have poor insulating properties.
- Provide a wind break / heated shelter for workers who experience prolonged exposure to the equivalent wind-chill temperature of 20°F or less and shield work areas from drafty or windy conditions.
- Use thermal insulating material on the handles of equipment when temps drop below 30°F.
- Allow individuals to set their own pace, work in pairs, and take extra work breaks when needed.
- Avoid activities, whenever possible, that lead to heavy perspiration.
- Shift as many outdoor activities as feasible to the inside; select the warmest hours of the day to work outside.
- Minimize activities requiring sitting or standing in a cold environment for long periods.
- Keep energy levels up and prevent dehydration by consuming warm, sweet, caffeine-free, nonalcoholic drinks and soup.
Seek warm shelter following these symptoms:
- Heavy shivering,
- An uncomfortable sensation of coldness,
- Severe fatigue,
- Drowsiness, or euphoria.
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| QHSE DOCS-Cold-injury Prevention Safety Precautions |
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