Cold Stress

DID YOU KNOW?

Winter weather caused MORE injuries in 2022 than drought and tornados!

TOTAL CASUALTIES - Injuries: 351, Deaths: 159

"Historic cold wave and winter storm impacts many Northwest, Central and Eastern states. Temperature departures exceeding 40.0 degrees F below normal occurred from Nebraska southward to Texas. The prolonged arctic air caused widespread power outages in Texas, as well as other southern states, with multiple days of sustained below-freezing temperatures. These extreme conditions also caused or contributed to the direct and indirect deaths of more than 210 people in Texas alone."
- injuryfacts.nsc.org

COLD-RELATED ILLNESSES & INJURIES

HYPOTHERMIA: When your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat and your body temperatire drops to less trhan 95°F
FROSTBITE: Caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues
TRENCH FOOT: Prolonged exposure to wet and cold conditions causes the
constricting of blood vessels in the feet, causing causing skin tissue to die.
CHILBLAINS: Skin sores or bumps that occur after exposure to very cold temperatures.

"The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that, annually in the United States, over 40,000 workplace injuries are attributed to conditions involving ice, sleet, and snow. A deeper look into worker’s compensation claims reveals that about 25% of injuries related to snow and ice occur in parking lots, with nearly one in five of these incidents resulting in lost time from work. Moreover, slip, trip, and fall claims for workers compensation average between $40,000 to $45,000—a significant financial burden for both employees and employers." - donhummertrucking.com

WIND CHILL IS NOT SO CHILL.

Wind chill is used to describe what the air temperature feels like to human skin, and at what rate the wind is taking heat away from the body. The combination of temperature and wind speed can affect how cold it actually feels outside.

If wind increases, and the temperature remains the same, it will feel colder. When wind blows across exposed skin it takes the heat we emit and blows it away from our bodies. This means the stronger the wind, the colder it feels.

The National Weather Service has created a chart using advances in science, technology, and computer modeling. This Wind Chill Temperature Index provides a way to understand and calculate the possible dangers of cold temperatures.

#1 PREVENTION TIP

MAKE YOUR CLOTHES WORK FOR YOU

Wear several layers of loose clothing – layering provides better insulation.
Wear wool or synthetic fabrics – like Fleece – for inner layers.
Wear wind and water-resistant fabrics for outer layers.
When choosing clothing, be aware some clothing may cause restriction in movement resulting in hazardous situations.
Make sure to keep your head warm – wear a hat, it will keep your whole body warmer. Hats reduce the amount of heat that escapes from your head.
Boots should be insulated and waterproof.
Wear insulated PPE when available – Insulated coveralls, bunker gear, jackets, insulated hoods and facepieces