The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) publishes OSHA Quick Card, Protecting Workers from Cold Stress for outdoor workers, including construction workers and trade craft. The OSHA Quick Card highlights the following five areas about cold stress during cold weather and low temperature events, for safety and health on the construction site:
- Common types of cold stress;
- Risk factors;
- Prevention by the employer;
- Prevention by the worker, and;
- How to treat a worker suffering from cold stress.
OSHA explains that “cold temperatures and increased wind speed (wind chill) cause heat to leave the body more quickly, putting workers at risk of cold stress,” including construction workers and trade craft in the outdoors. The National Weather Service defines “wind chill” or “wind chill factor” as a measure of the effect of increased wind speeds that accelerate heat loss from exposed skin, during low temperature events and high wind events.
Three Common Types of Cold Stress
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that “…serious health problems can result from prolonged exposure to the cold.” Further, the OSHA Quick Card, Protecting Workers from Cold Stress highlights three common types of cold stress:
- Hypothermia;
- Frostbite, and;
- Trench foot or immersion foot.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is abnormally low body temperature.
The CDC defines hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature, as “a dangerous condition that can occur when a person is exposed to extremely cold temperatures.” Hypothermia is when normal body temperature (98.6°F) decreases to 95°F or less. When exposed to cold temperatures, the human body begins to lose heat faster than it can produce heat. Abnormally low body temperature negatively impacts brain function, making the victim unable to think clearly or move proficiently, which can lead to dangerous behaviors and hazardous conditions particularly on the construction site.
Seven Symptoms of Hypothermia
Further, the CDC notes that hypothermia can occur from time to time at cool but not freezing temperatures (above 40°F) due to chill from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water, for example. Seven warning signs and symptoms of hypothermia in adults include:
- Shivering;
- Exhaustion;
- Confusion;
- Fumbling hands;
- Memory loss;
- Slurred speech, and;
- Drowsiness.
About OSHA
OSHA is part of the United States Department of Labor. The administrator for OSHA is the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. OSHA’s administrator answers to the Secretary of Labor, who is a member of the cabinet of the President of the United States.
OSHA’s Mission
With the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.
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(Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA Quick Card, Protecting Workers from Cold Stress. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Labor, n.d. Print.)