Cold Stress

1. Cold Stress

2. 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

3. Agenda • Definitions • Regulations • Responsibilities • Hazard Identification

4. Agenda • Risk Assessment • Risk Controls • Recognizing Symptoms • First Aid Procedures

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

6. 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

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

8. Responsibilities • Employer • Conduct risk assessments • Develop and implement exposure control plan • Provide training • Provide heated shelter or vehicle

9. Responsibilities • Employer – continued • Maintain records • Ensure adequate first aid coverage

10. Responsibilities • Managers • Ensure that a cold stress assessment is performed • Provide administrative controls • Ensure protective clothing is available • Ensure workers receive training

11. Responsibilities • Supervisors • Known or reasonably foreseeable cold hazards • Health and safety of all workers • Safe work practices

12. Responsibilities • Workers • Follow safe work procedures • Seek shelter if displaying symptoms of hypothermia • Wear adequate clothing • Avoid getting wet

13. Responsibilities • Workers – continued • Wear eye protection when warranted • Wear PPE

14. Responsibilities • Joint OHS Committee • Advise the Employer onprocedures and systems • Help evaluate workplace conditions • Deal with worker complaints • Help with incident investigations and worksite inspections

15. Risk Identification • Environmental Hazards • Job or Task-Related Hazards • Personal Risk Hazards

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. Risk Assessment • Documentation • Taking measurements • Categorizing the risk • Vibration and accidental exposure • Accidental exposure • Conditions that require a mandatory assessment

20. Risk Assessment • Cold Stress Risk Assessment Form • Section One • Section Two • Measurements • Category and control • Hand/arm vibration • Accidental exposure

21. 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”

22. Risk Controls • Working in hazardous wind chill conditions • Contact with cold surfaces • Bare hands in a cold environment • Administrative controls • Personal Protective Equipment & Clothing

23. Risk Controls • Wind Chill Conditions • Heated shelter or vehicle to be available • Worker instructions • Workers must wear adequate protective clothing

24. 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

25. Risk Controls • Hand Protection • Warm air jets, radiant heaters or warm contact plates for hand warming • Controls designed for operation by gloved hands

26. 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

27. Risk Controls • Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment • Wear insulated outer clothing • Use protective clothing in controlled environments • Change out of wet clothing

28. Risk Controls • Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment – continued • Immediately change to dry clothing if immersed in water • Wear PPE if danger of frostbite

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

30. 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

31. 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.

32. Prevention • Proper use of clothing • Under Layer • Insulating Layer • Outer Layer

33. 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

34. Prevention • Eating and Drinking Guidelines • High caloric intake is recommended for cold work • Warm sweet drinks available • Drink frequently • Avoid coffee • Avoid alcohol

35. Recognizing Symptoms • Mild Hypothermia • Moderate Hypothermia • Severe Hypothermia • Frostnip & Frostbite

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

37. Recognizing Symptoms • Moderate Hypothermia • Violent shivering or shivering has stopped • Inability to think / focus • Mild confusion

38. Recognizing Symptoms • Moderate Hypothermia – continued • Slow, shallow breathing • Slurred speech • Poor co-ordination • Slow, weak pulse

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

40. Recognizing Symptoms • Severe Hypothermia – continued • Dilated pupils • Exposed skin blue and/or puffy • Similar symptoms to clinical definition of death

41. 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

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

43. 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

44. First Aid • General Procedures • Frostbite • Managing & Re-warming Injuries • Accidental Exposure

45. 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

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

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

48. 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

49. 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

50. First Aid • Accidental Exposure • Unplanned event • Clothing and equipment • Treat appropriately • Assessed by OFAA or physician