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HSE Department Training

(Details Page)

Kilo 75- high-speed 31 /12 / 2022 1:30 pm 10

Project: rail
Date: Time: Pages:

Subject : ( Cold Weather Hazards ) :

Trainer : Mohamed Hasafy :
Job Title : HSE supervisor :

Safety Topics Discussed:

1- Who is affected by environmental cold?

2- What is cold stress?

3- What are the stages of cold stress?

➢ Mild hypothermia (98 - 90° F )

➢ Moderate hypothermia ( 90 - 86° F )

➢ Severe hypothermia ( 86 - 78° F )

4- Cold Stress Health Hazards types (symptoms / First Aid)

➢ Frostbite

➢ Trench foot / Immersion

➢ Hypothermia

5- How can cold stress be prevented?

6- Safe Work Practices for Cold Environments

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Remarks:

• Workers are exposed to environmental cold. Increasing wind speed causes cold air temperature to
become colder, increasing the risk of cold stress for workers working outdoors such as construction
workers workers include Others who are affected by exposure to cold conditions, according to the
nature of their work

• Workers were introduced to what cold stress might be and its effects across different regions of the
country. In regions unaccustomed to winter weather, near-freezing temperatures are considered "cold
stress" factors. Increasing wind speed also causes heat to leave the body more quickly (the wind-chill
effect). Wetness, even from body perspiration, also facilitates the loss of heat from the body. Cold stress
occurs by lowering the skin temperature and, eventually, the internal body temperature. When the body
is unable to warm itself, serious cold-related illnesses and injuries can occur, and this can lead to
permanent tissue damage and death.

• The workers were introduced to the stages of cold stress and the effect of each on the body

❖ Mild: shivering Grogginess Poor judgment or confused thinking

❖ Moderate: Violent shivering Inability to think or pay attention Slow, shallow breathing Slurred
speech Poor body coordination

❖ Severe: Loss of consciousness Little or no breathing Weak, irregular, or non-existent pulse

• The workers were introduced to the Hazards of cold stress symptoms and First Aid :

❖ Frostbite:

▪ Frostbite is caused by the freezing of the skin and tissues. Frostbite can cause permanent damage to the

body, and in severe cases can lead to amputation. The risk of frostbite is increased in people with reduced

blood circulation and among people who are not dressed properly for extremely cold temperatures.

▪ symptoms of frostbite
Reddened skin develops gray/white patches in the fingers, toes, nose, or ear lobes; tingling, aching, a loss

of feeling, firm/hard, and blisters may occur in the affected areas.

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▪ First Aid:
Protect the frostbitten area, e.g., by wrapping loosely in a dry cloth and protect the area from contact until

medical help arrives.

DO NOT rub the affected area, because rubbing causes damage to the skin and tissue.

Do not apply snow or water. Do not break blisters.

DO NOT try to re-warm the frostbitten area before getting medical help, for example, do not use heating

pads or place in warm water. If a frostbitten area is rewarmed and gets frozen again, more tissue damage

will occur. It is safer for the frostbitten area to be rewarmed by medical professionals.

Give warm sweetened drinks if alert (no alcohol).

❖ Trench Foot / Immersion:

▪ Trench foot is a non-freezing injury of the feet caused by prolonged exposure to wet and cold conditions. It
can occur in temperatures as high as 60°F if feet are constantly wet. Injury occurs because wet feet lose
heat 25-times faster than dry feet. [CDC/NIOSH]

▪ symptoms of trench foot

Reddening skin, tingling, pain, swelling, leg cramps, numbness, and blisters.

▪ First Aid

Call 911 immediately in an emergency; otherwise seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
Remove wet shoes/boots and wet socks.
Dry the feet and avoid working on them.
Keep affected feet elevated and avoid walking. Get medical attention.

❖ Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when the normal body temperature (98.6°F) drops to less than 95°F. Exposure to cold

temperatures causes the body to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Prolonged exposure to cold will

eventually use up the body’s stored energy. The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature.

Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F) if a

person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or immersion in cold water.

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▪ symptoms of hypothermia

An important mild symptom of hypothermia is uncontrollable shivering, which should not be ignored.

Although shivering indicates that the body is losing heat, it also helps the body to rewarm itself. Moderate

to severe symptoms of hypothermia are loss of coordination, confusion, slurred speech, heart

rate/breathing slow, unconsciousness and possibly death. Body temperature that is too low affects the

brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia particularly

dangerous because a person may not know what is happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.

▪ First Aid

Call 911 immediately in an emergency:

Move the worker to a warm, dry area.

Remove any wet clothing and replace with dry clothing. Wrap the entire body (including the head and neck)

in layers of blankets; and with a vapor barrier (e.g. tarp, garbage bag) Do not cover the face.

If medical help is more than 30 minutes away:

Give warm sweetened drinks if alert (no alcohol), to help increase the body temperature. Never try to give a

drink to an unconscious person.

Place warm bottles or hot packs in armpits, sides of chest, and groin. Call 911 for additional rewarming

instructions

• Some guidance has been given to workers with cold stress

❖ IMPORTANT TIPS TO PREVENT COLD STRESS

Wear proper clothing for cold, wet and windy conditions

Take frequent, short breaks in warm, dry shelters

Schedule work for the warmest part of the day

Avoid exhaustion or fatigue

Keep extra clothing handy in case clothes get wet

Drink warm, sweet beverages and avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol

Eat warm, high-calorie foods

Use the buddy-system - work in pairs so that one worker can recognize the danger signs

Stay dry in the cold because moisture or dampness, even from sweating, can increase the rate of heat loss

from the body

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❖ Other important clothing that can help prevent cold stress:

Insulated coat/jacket (water resistant if necessary)

Knit mask to cover face and mouth (if needed)

Hat that covers the ears. A hat will help keep the whole body warmer and reduce the amount of body

heat that escapes from the head.

Insulated gloves (water resistant if necessary, to protect the hands

Insulated and waterproof boots to protect the feet

❖ Dressing properly is extremely important to preventing cold stress. Wear at least three
layers of loose fitting clothing. Layers provides better insulation.

An inner layer of thermal wear, wool, silk or synthetic (polypropylene) to keep moisture away from the

body.

A middle layer of wool or synthetic to provide insulation even when wet.

An outer wind and rain protection layer that allows some ventilation to prevent overheating.

Tight clothing reduces blood circulation and warm blood needs to be circulated to the extremities.

❖ Workers were introduced to working practices for cold environments

Eliminate or limit work as much as possible when extremely cold temperatures are present.

Allow for acclimatization to cold environments or weather. If the weather is extremely cold for

the area or time of year, you will not yet be used to it and are more susceptible to succumbing to

a cold-related illness.

Layer up on clothing and keep clothes dry. It is important to remove any wet clothing or boots

and put on dry items when working in a cold environment.

Take breaks in warm areas or vehicles as needed.

Drink warm beverages to help warm up your core temperature.

Monitor the condition of other workers around you. If you notice something could be wrong, get

them into a warm area and notify a supervisor.

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