OSHA Quick Card: Protecting Workers from Cold Stress
Cold temperatures and increased wind speed (wind chill) cause heat to leave the body more quickly, putting workers at risk of cold stress. Anyone working in the cold may be at risk, e.g., workers in freezers, outdoor agriculture and construction.
Common Types of Cold Stress
Hypothermia
• Normal body temperature (98.6°F) drops to 95°F or less.
• Mild Symptoms: alert but shivering.
• Moderate to Severe Symptoms: shivering stops;
confusion; slurred speech; heart rate/breathing slow;
loss of consciousness; death.
Frostbite
• Body tissues freeze, e.g., hands and feet. Can occur at
temperatures above freezing, due to wind chill. May
result in amputation.
• Symptoms: numbness, reddened skin develops gray/
white patches, feels firm/hard, and may blister.
Trench Foot (also known as Immersion Foot)
• Non-freezing injury to the foot, caused by lengthy
exposure to wet and cold environment. Can occur at air
temperature as high as 60°F, if feet are constantly wet.
• Symptoms: redness, swelling, numbness, and blisters
Click here for the pdf of this OSHA Quick Card containing more information on this safety topic.
