COLD Environments

RISK OF WORKING IN COLD ENVIRONMENTS

Why should you be concerned about working in the cold?

Working in cold environments can cause stiff joints, poor circulation and hand pain.
It is critical that the hand using the mouse be able to preserve core temperature steady at + 37°C (+ 98.6°F). This thermal balance must be maintained to preserve normal functioning as well as provide energy for activity (or work).
The body's mechanisms for generating heat (its metabolism) has to meet the challenge presented by low temperature, wind and wetness - the three major challenges of cold environments.
It is important to recognize that as a result of heat loss, overall circulation is reduced. This makes the hand more susceptible to cold injuries.

What are some examples of jobs in which cold may be an occupational hazard?

Susceptibility to cold injury varies from person to person. While anyone working in a cold environment may be at risk.

Workers at risk of cold injury include:

• Office workers in air-conditioned offices
  
• Warehouse workers
  
• Outdoor workers
  
• Home workers in drafty environments
  
• Transport workers
  
• Police officers, fire fighters, emergency response workers
  
• Military personnel
  
  

How does cold affect work performance?

Uncomfortably cold working conditions can lead to lower work efficiency and higher accident rates. Cold impairs the performance of tasks. Manual tasks are also impaired because the sensitivity and dexterity of fingers are reduced in the cold. At low temperatures, the cold affects the deeper muscles resulting in reduced muscular strength and stiffened joints.

Mental alertness is reduced due to cold-related discomfort. For all these reasons accidents are more likely to occur in very cold working conditions.

What are the health effects of exposure to cold?

Cooling of body parts may result in various nonfreezing cold injuries. Fingers are at greatest risk because this area does not have major muscles to produce heat. In addition, the body will preserve heat by favouring the internal organs, thus reducing the flow of blood to the extremities under cold conditions. Hands tend to get cold more quickly than the torso because:

1. they lose heat more rapidly since they have a higher surface area-to-volume ratio, and
2. they are more likely to be in contact with colder surfaces than other parts of the body।

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