Ergonomics Emcis
Ergonomics Emcis
Ergonomics Emcis
• Radiation -- Your body continuously radiates heat into the surrounding environment. Factors
important in radiant heat loss are the surface area exposed to cold and how great the
temperature difference is between your body and its surroundings. Layering clothing that
traps heat closer to the body helps reduce this loss.
• Convection -- Convection is the loss of heat from the body to the surrounding air as the air
moves across the surface of the body. The rate of heat loss from the skin by contact with cold
air depends on the air speed and the temperature difference between the skin and the
surrounding air. The greater the air speed and the Normal Hypothermic
lower the temperature, the greater the loss of
heat.
• Conduction -- Conduction is the loss of heat
through direct contact with a cooler object.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia means "low temperature" and is a potentially serious
health condition. Hypothermia develops as a result of exposure to cold
environments. This occurs when body heat is lost from being in a cold
environment faster than it can be replaced. It is not the sudden onset of
a condition (6) (7).
Image from (9)
Signs/Symptoms Treatment
Mild Mild
•Shivering •Move to warm area
•Lack of coordination, stumbling, fumbling •Stay active
•Slurred speech •Remove wet clothes and replace with dry
•Memory loss clothes or blankets, cover the head
•Pale, cold skin •Drink warm (not hot) sugary drink
Moderate Moderate
•Shivering stops All of the above, plus:
•Unable to walk or stand •Call 911 for an ambulance
•Confused and irrational •Cover all extremities completely
•Place very warm objects, such as hot packs
Remember: or water bottles on the victim's head, neck,
Hypothermia chest and groin
Frostbite
Frostbite
Frostbite is an injury caused by exposure to severe cold or by
contact with extremely cold objects. It occurs when the skin freezes
and loses water. In severe cases, amputation of the frostbitten area may
be required. Frostbite typically affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin,
fingers or toes (6) (7).
Image from (6)
Signs/Symptoms Treatment
•Cold, tingling, stinging or aching feeling •Call 911 for an ambulance
in the frostbitten area followed by •Warm frostbitten area gradually with body heat –
numbness DO NOT RUB
•Skin color turns red, then purple, then •Do not thaw hands or feet unless medical aid is
white or very pale distant and there is no chance of refreezing
•Skin is cold to the touch •Apply sterile dressings to blisters to prevent
•Blisters occur in severe cases breaking
Page 4 Environmental Risk Factors – Cold Stress
Trench Foot
Trench foot, also known as immersion foot, is an injury of the Trench Foot
feet resulting from prolonged exposure to wet and cold conditions. Skin
tissue begins to die because of lack of oxygen and nutrients and from
the buildup of toxic products (6) (7).
Chilblains
Chilblains
Chilblains are caused by the repeated exposure of skin to
temperatures just above freezing to as high as 60 degrees F. The cold
exposure causes damage to the capillary beds (groups of small blood
vessels) in the skin and is often accompanied by redness and itching. This
damage is permanent and redness and itching will return with additional
Signs/Symptoms Treatment
•Redness •Avoid scratching
•Itching •Slowly warm the skin
•Possible blistering •Use corticosteroid creams to relieve itching and
•Inflammation swelling
•Possible ulceration in severe cases •Keep blisters and ulcers clean and covered
Protective Clothing
Wearing the right clothing is the most important way to avoid cold
stress. The type of fabric also makes a difference. Cotton loses its
insulation value when it becomes wet. Wool, on the other hand, retains
its insulation even when wet.
Page 5 Environmental Risk Factors – Cold Stress
Work Practices
• Fluid Intake -- Drink plenty of liquids, avoiding caffeine and alcohol. It
is easy to become dehydrated in cold weather.
• Work Schedule -- If possible, heavy work should be scheduled during
the warmer parts of the day and/or alternate indoor and outdoor
activities. Take breaks in warm areas.
Middle
• Buddy System -- Try to work in pairs to keep an eye on each other and
watch for signs of cold stress.
Engineering Controls
• Radiant heaters may be used to warm workers.
• Shield work areas from drafts or wind.
• Use insulating material on equipment handles, especially metal
handles, when temperatures drop below 30° F (13).
• Heated cabs and operator booths may be used to keep workers warm.
Miscellaneous pictures of
What’s Next
The next newsletter will discuss the environmental risk factor of altitude. Working at high
altitudes can put you at risk for acute altitude sickness if you do not take precautions to acclimate
yourself to the new altitude slowly. Altitude sickness occurs because of the lower levels of oxygen
and air pressure as you ascend in altitude. Individuals vary in their susceptibility to acute altitude
sickness and may develop symptoms at different levels of altitude.
References:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011). Extreme Cold: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety. United States
Department of Health and Human Services.
2. American Industrial Hygiene Association (1975). Heating and Cooling for Man in Industry (2 nd Edition, page 5).
3. Devlins Bench Mining LTD (2011). Current News Monday, November 1, 2010. [http://devlinsbenchminingltd.blogspot.com/2010/11/winter-finally-
drove-us-out-as-you-can.html]. Date accessed: March 2011.
4. Princeton University (2010). Outdoor Action Guide to Hypothermia and Cold Weather Injuries. [http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/safety/hypocold.shtml].
Date accessed: January 2012.
5. Princeton University Environmental Health and Safety (2011). Cold Stress Fact Sheet. [http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/safety/hypocold.shtml]. Date
accessed: March 2011.
6. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (2011). Cold Stress. [http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/coldstress/]. Date accessed: March 2011
7. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (1998). OSHA 5156: The Cold Card. United States Department of Labor.
8. BBC Learning (2011). Maintaining Body Temperature.
[http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr/homeostasis/bodytemprev1.shtml]. Date accessed: March 2011.
9. Alaska In Pictures (2011). Man in Extreme Cold. [http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/man-in-extreme-cold-355-pictures.htm]. Date accessed: March
2011.
10. My Foot Shot (2011). Trench Foot. [http://www.myfootshop.com/detail.asp?Condition=Trench%20Foot]. Date accessed: March 2011.
11. Science Photo Library (2011). Chilblains on the Fingers of a 16 Year Old Girl.
[http://www.sciencephotolibrary.com/images/download_lo_res.html?id=771300483]. Date accessed: April 2011.
12. Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health (2011). Cold Stress. [http://www.elcosh.org/en/document/428/d000420/cold-
stress.html]. Date accessed: April 2011.
13. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (2007). Cold Stress. [http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/guides/cold.html]. Date
accessed: April 2011.
14. Survival Topics (2011). Winter Survival Clothing. [http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/winter-survival-clothing-system/]. Date accessed: April 2011.
15. The Mining Journal (2009). Flambeau Mining Project Success Debated. [http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/530387.html]. Date
accessed: April 2011.
16. Danny’s Mining, Health, Living & Lifestyle (2009). Cold Weather Mining. [http://dannys-minesite.blogspot.com]. Date accessed: April 2011.
17. Coming Back Alive (2009). Frostbite.[http://comingbackalive.com/winterfrostbite.html]. Date accessed: April 2011.