Cold Stress
Training Objectives
• By the end of the session you will:
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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
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Definitions
Regulations
Responsibilities
Hazard Identification
Agenda
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Risk Assessment
Risk Controls
Recognizing Symptoms
First Aid Procedures
Definitions
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 -7C
• 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
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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
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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
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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 -7C 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
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Mild Hypothermia
Moderate Hypothermia
Severe Hypothermia
Frostnip & Frostbite
Recognizing Symptoms
• Mild Hypothermia
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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
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Slow, shallow breathing
Slurred speech
Poor co-ordination
Slow, weak pulse
Recognizing Symptoms
• Severe Hypothermia
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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
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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
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Skin appearance: white
Wooden feeling throughout affected area
All layers of skin affected
Numbness, sensation may be absent
Recognizing Symptoms
• Deep Frostbite
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Skin appears white
Affected areas feels ‘wooden’ to touch
Includes all layers of skin
May include freezing of muscle or bone
First Aid
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General Procedures
Frostbite
Managing & Re-warming Injuries
Accidental Exposure
First Aid
• General Procedures
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Unplanned event
Clothing and equipment
Treat appropriately
Assessed by OFAA or physician
Survival Kit
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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 vaporbarrier wrapper
• Means of communication i.e. cell phone,
2-way radio
Summary
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WorkSafeBC OHS Regulation
Risk identification
Risk assessment
Risk controls
Symptoms
First aid
Questions?