Cold Stress

Training Objectives

• By the end of the session you will:• Know what cold stress is• Understand the WorkSafeBC Regulations• Understand the risks• Know how to control the risk• Be able to identify symptoms• Know first aid response

Agenda

• Definitions• Regulations• Responsibilities• Hazard Identification

Agenda

• Risk Assessment• Risk Controls• Recognizing Symptoms• First Aid Procedures

Definitions

• Accidental Exposure• Artificially Cold Workplace• Cold-Related Injuries• Cold Stress• Equivalent Temperature• Hypothermia

Regulation

• The Regulation applies if workers may be exposed to thermal conditions that:• May cause cold stress injury• Could cause core body temp to fall• Are below ACGIH acceptable levels

Regulation

• Assessment and exposure control• Cold stress controls• Heated shelters• Clothing and PPE

Responsibilities

• Employer• Conduct risk assessments• Develop and implement exposure control

plan• Provide training• Provide heated shelter or vehicle

Responsibilities

• Employer – continued

• Maintain records• Ensure adequate first

aid coverage

Responsibilities

• Managers• Ensure that a cold stress assessment is

performed• Provide administrative controls• Ensure protective clothing is available• Ensure workers receive training

Responsibilities

• Supervisors• Known or reasonably foreseeable cold

hazards• Health and safety of all workers• Safe work practices

Responsibilities

• Workers• Follow safe work procedures• Seek shelter if displaying symptoms of

hypothermia• Wear adequate clothing• Avoid getting wet

Responsibilities

• Workers – continued

• Wear eye protection when warranted• Wear PPE

Responsibilities

• Joint OHS Committee• Advise the Employer on procedures and

systems• Help evaluate workplace conditions• Deal with worker complaints• Help with incident investigations and

worksite inspections

Risk Identification

• Environmental Hazards• Job or Task-Related Hazards• Personal Risk Hazards

Risk Identification

• Environmental Risks• Observe conditions and note hazards • Determine risks of accidental exposure• Look at previous history of exposure to

cold• Conduct risk assessment if hazard(s) is

present

Risk Identification

• Job / Task Related Risks• Observe the tasks• Determine hazards that may expose

workers to risk• If task-related hazard is present implement

controls

Risk Identification

• Personal Risks• Poor physical fitness• Not used to working in the cold• Cold or other flu like symptoms• Chronic illness or circulatory problems• Using certain drugs or medication• Exhibiting symptoms of fatigue• Vibration white finger disease

Risk Assessment

• Documentation• Taking measurements• Categorizing the risk• Vibration and accidental exposure• Accidental exposure• Conditions that require a mandatory

assessment

Risk Assessment

• Cold Stress Risk Assessment Form• Section One• Section Two

• Measurements• Category and control• Hand/arm vibration• Accidental exposure

Risk Assessment

• Conditions Requiring Assessment• Conditions that cold cause cold stress or

injury• Conditions that could cause worker’s core

body temperature to fall below 36C• Conditions below levels classed by ACGIH

as “little danger”

Risk Controls

• Working in hazardous wind chill conditions

• Contact with cold surfaces• Bare hands in a cold environment• Administrative controls• Personal Protective Equipment &

Clothing

Risk Controls

• Wind Chill Conditions• Heated shelter or vehicle to be available• Worker instructions• Workers must wear adequate protective

clothing

Risk Controls

• Contacting Cold Surfaces• Protective clothing and equipment• Wear protective gloves, mittens and

footwear• Wear insulated gloves when surfaces are

colder than -7C• Avoid skin contact with cold surfaces

Risk Controls

• Hand Protection• Warm air jets, radiant heaters or warm

contact plates for hand warming• Controls designed for operation by gloved

hands

Risk Controls

• Administrative Controls• Adjustment to the cold• Reduce activities performed outdoors • Remain well hydrated• Eat properly according to the cold climate• Establish a buddy system

Risk Controls

• Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment• Wear insulated outer

clothing• Use protective clothing in

controlled environments• Change out of wet

clothing

Risk Controls

• Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment – continued• Immediately change to dry clothing if

immersed in water• Wear PPE if danger of frostbite

Prevention

• Understanding the personal risk factors• Following safe work practices• Proper use of clothing• Using shelters• Following guidelines for eating and

drinking

Prevention

• Personal Risk Factors• Poor physical fitness• Not used to working in the cold• Cold or other flu like symptoms• Chronic illness or circulatory problems• Using certain drugs or medication that

inhibit the body’s response to the cold or impairs judgment

• Vibration white finger disease

Prevention

• Safe Work Practices• Use a “buddy system”• Do a regular “self-check” for symptoms• If you discover a cold-related injury

NOTE: this last point isn’t finished.

Prevention

• Proper use of clothing• Under Layer• Insulating Layer• Outer Layer

Prevention

• Use of Shelters• Provide shelters at -7C or below • Use shelters at regular intervals• Remove outer clothing and allow

ventilation• Assess cold injury or hypothermia victims

Prevention

• Eating and Drinking Guidelines• High caloric intake is recommended for

cold work• Warm sweet drinks available• Drink frequently• Avoid coffee• Avoid alcohol

Recognizing Symptoms

• Mild Hypothermia• Moderate Hypothermia• Severe Hypothermia• Frostnip & Frostbite

Recognizing Symptoms

• Mild Hypothermia• Feel chilled / cold• Goose bumps• Limited hand movement• Poor judgment• Shivering• Numb hands

Recognizing Symptoms

• Moderate Hypothermia• Violent shivering or shivering has stopped• Inability to think / focus• Mild confusion

Recognizing Symptoms

• Moderate Hypothermia – continued

• Slow, shallow breathing• Slurred speech• Poor co-ordination• Slow, weak pulse

Recognizing Symptoms

• Severe Hypothermia• Shivering has stopped• Unconsciousness• Little or no breathing• Weak, irregular or non-existent pulse

Recognizing Symptoms

• Severe Hypothermia – continued

• Dilated pupils• Exposed skin blue and/or puffy• Similar symptoms to clinical definition of

death

Recognizing Symptoms

• Frostbite / Frostnip• Top layers of skin tissue freeze• Skin appearance: white, waxy• Top layer of skin feels hard & rubbery• Deep tissue is still soft• Numbness

Recognizing Symptoms

• Superficial Frostbite• Skin appearance: white• Wooden feeling throughout affected area• All layers of skin affected• Numbness, sensation may be absent

Recognizing Symptoms

• Deep Frostbite• Skin appears white• Affected areas feels ‘wooden’ to touch• Includes all layers of skin• May include freezing of muscle or bone

First Aid

• General Procedures• Frostbite• Managing & Re-warming Injuries• Accidental Exposure

First Aid

• General Procedures• Handle victim gently• Remove from cold and assess• Give hot fluids only if victim is conscious• Do not attempt to exercise victim• Prevent further heat loss

First Aid

• Frostbite• Rewarm the area gently• Do not rub the area• If area is large, use immersion method• Transport to hospital if necessary

First Aid

• Management and Re-Warming• Minimize exertion• Remove wet clothing• Get the victim into warm, dry clothes• Wrap victim in warm blankets

First Aid

• Management and Re-Warming - continued• Cover victim’s head• Place something warm and dry under the

victim • Move the victim to a warm environment

First Aid

• Management and Re-Warming - continued• Do not make the victim exercise• Do not suppress shivering• Do not massage extremities or trunk• Do not place in warm bath or shower

First Aid

• Accidental Exposure• Unplanned event• Clothing and equipment• Treat appropriately• Assessed by OFAA or physician

Survival Kit

• A change of clothing• Emergency supplies• Light weight emergency rain poncho• Spare gloves, footwear, head covering

and face mask

Survival Kit

• Protective eye wear• Sleeping bag stored in plastic vapor-

barrier wrapper• Means of communication i.e. cell phone,

2-way radio

Summary

• WorkSafeBC OHS Regulation• Risk identification• Risk assessment• Risk controls• Symptoms• First aid

Questions?