Medications including anti-depressants, sedatives, tranquilizers.While anyone working in cold conditions may be at risk, additional factors may also worsen the effects of chilly temperatures. In fact, according to Princeton University, hypothermia occurs most frequently in the spring and fall when individuals are exposed to cooler wet conditions, not yet acclimated to the change in temperature and lacking adequate attire. For example, damp weather combined with temperatures in the 50’s, can produce hypothermia. Given the extreme temperatures in current weather patterns across the United States, one can see the dangers for workers.Ĭold stress can also occur in other seasons or environments apart from wintery conditions. Under these conditions, exposed skin can freeze in 10 minutes. Each shaded area shows how long (30, 10 and 5 minutes) a person can be exposed before frostbite develops.įor example, a temperature of -15 degrees F and a wind speed of 30 mph will produce a wind chill temperature of -46 degrees F. The chart includes three shaded areas of frostbite danger. The index is formulated around the heat loss resultant from exposed skin. The National Weather Service Wind Chill Temperature Index identifies and charts the dangers of frostbite, based on the variables of temperature, wind speed and length of exposure. As wind chill is the combination of air temperature and wind speed, it significantly affects the body’s heat loss, especially to exposed skin, often resulting in frostbite. There are four environmental factors that heighten the effects of cold stress on the body:Ĭombining any of these factors greatly increases the impact of cold on the body. The most common cold-induced problems include hypothermia, frostbite, and trench foot. Eventually, given enough exposure to cold, the body becomes unable to warm itself and cold-related stress occurs. While we can adjust for small variations in cooler temperature, cold environments force our bodies to work very hard to maintain a proper operating temperature. However, unlike adaption to warmer temperatures, human beings are quite limited in acclimating safely to the effects of cold weather. Man is genetically engineered to adapt for many types of surroundings and environments. Protect your workers by training them in recognition and prevention to reduce the risk of cold stress on the job. Cold stress has been called a “silent” killer as it often causes symptoms that quietly affect individuals, numbing them to the effects of worsening physical conditions, which may lead to frostbite, hypothermia, trench foot or death. While physically taxing, freezing temperatures are also a serious hazard on the job.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |