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Could it be that your next snow storm
may be only a month or so away?
Hard to accept? Yes, but OSHA
wants to remind workers, employers and
the general public of the hazards associated
with snow removal and recovery work.
“Cleaning up after a storm encompasses
a variety of tasks, each of which
can carry risks if performed incorrectly or
without proper safeguards,” said Robert Kulick, OSHA’s regional administrator in
New York. “We want people to know
what those risks are and what steps they
can take to protect themselves against
these hazards.”
Common hazards can include:
• Electric shock from contact with
downed power lines or the use of
ungrounded electrical equipment.
• Falls from snow removal on roofs or
while working in aerial lifts or on ladders.
• Being struck or crushed by trees,
branches or structures that collapse under
the weight of accumulated snow.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning from gasoline-
powered generators in inadequately
ventilated areas or idling vehicles.
• Lacerations or amputations from unguarded
or improperly operated chain
saws and power tools, and improperly
attempting to clear jams in snow
blowers.
• Slips or falls on icy or snow-covered
walking surfaces.
• Being struck by motor vehicles while
working in roadways.
• Hypothermia or frostbite from
exposure to cold temperatures.
Means of addressing these hazards can
include:
• Assuming all power lines are energized,
keeping your distance and
coordinating with the utility.
• Making certain that all electrically
powered equipment is grounded.
• Providing and ensuring the use of
effective fall protection.
• Properly using and maintaining ladders.
• Using caution around surfaces weighted
down by large amounts of snow. • Making certain all powered equipment
is properly guarded and disconnected
from power sources before cleaning or
performing maintenance.
• Using and wearing eye, face and body
protection.
• Clearing walking surfaces of snow and
ice, and using ice melt or equivalent
where appropriate.
• Establishing and clearly marking work
zones.
• Wearing reflective clothing.
Using engineering controls, personal
protective equipment and safe work practices
to reduce the length and severity of
exposure to the cold.
Concise information on hazards and
safeguards associated with cleanup and recovery
activities after a storm or other
major weather events is available
online at www.osha.gov/OshDoc/hurricane
Recovery.html.
Preventing Cold Stress
When exposed to cold
temperatures, the body begins to lose heat faster than it
can be produced, and the effects can be as dangerous as
those of heat stress. These cold-weather-related conditions may lead to serious health problems. The
National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health has identified the following as
different types of cold stress to be
avoided:
• Hypothermia;
• Frostbite;
• Trench Foot; and
• Chiblains.
Prolonged exposure to cold will eventually
use up your body’s stored energy.
The result is hypothermia, or abnormally
low body temperature. A 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 it is
happening and will not be able to do
anything about it.
Symptoms of hypothermia can vary depending
on how long you have been exposed
to the cold temperatures. Early symptoms include
shivering, fatigue, loss of coordination
and confusion or disorientation.
Late symptoms include a lack of shivering,
blue skin, dilated pupils, a slowed
pulse and breathing, and loss of consciousness. Take the following steps to treat a
worker with hypothermia:
• Alert a supervisor and request medical
assistance.
• Move the victim into a warm room or
shelter.
• Remove wet clothing.
• Warm the center of the body first, including
chest, neck, head, and groin using
an electric blanket, if available;
or use skin-to-skin contact under loose,
dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets.
• Warm beverages may help increase
the body temperature, but do not give
alcoholic beverages. Do not try to
give beverages to an unconscious
person.
• After their body temperature has increased,
keep the victim dry and
wrapped in a warm blanket, including
the head and neck.
• If victim has no pulse, begin
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).Frostbite
Frostbite is an injury to the body that is
caused by freezing. Frostbite causes a loss
of feeling and color in the affected areas.
It most often affects the nose, ears,
cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Frostbite can
permanently damage body tissues, and in
severe cases can lead to amputation. In extremely
cold temperatures, the risk of
frostbite is increased in workers with reduced
blood circulation and among workers
who are not dressed properly.
Symptoms of frostbite include reduced
blood flow to hands and feet (fingers or
toes can freeze), numbness, tingling or
stinging, aching and bluish or pail, waxy
skin.
Workers suffering from frostbite
should: Get into a warm room as soon as
possible. Unless absolutely necessary, do
not walk on frostbitten feet or toes, which
can increase the damage.
Immerse the affected area in warm —
not hot — water (the temperature should
be comfortable to the touch for unaffected
parts of the body).
Warm the affected area using body
heat; for example, the heat of an armpit
can be used to warm frostbitten fingers.
Do not rub or massage the frostbitten
area; doing so may cause more damage.
Do not use a heating pad, heat lamp, or
the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator
for warming. Affected areas are numb and
can be easily burned.
Trench Foot
Trench foot, also known as immersion
foot, is an injury of the feet resulting
from prolonged exposure to wet and cold
conditions.
Trench foot can occur at temperatures
as high as 60º F if the feet are
constantly wet. Injury occurs because
wet feet lose heat 25-times faster than
dry feet.
Therefore, to prevent heat loss, the
body constricts blood vessels to shut
down circulation in the feet. Skin tissue
begins to die because of lack of oxygen
and nutrients and due to the buildup of
toxic products.
Symptoms of trench foot include: Reddening
of the skin, numbness, leg cramps,
swelling, tingling pain, blisters or ulcers,
bleeding under the skin, and/or gangrene
(the foot may turn dark purple, blue, or
gray).
Workers suffering from trench foot
should: remove shoes/boots and wet
socks; dry their feet; and avoid walking, as this may cause tissue damage.
Chilblains
Chilblains are caused by the repeated
exposure of skin to temperatures just
above freezing to as high as 60º F. The
cold exposure causes damage to the capillary
beds (groups of small blood vessels)
in the skin. This damage is permanent and
the redness and itching will return with
additional exposure. The redness and itching
typically occurs on cheeks, ears, fingers,
and toes.
Symptoms of chilblains include redness,
itching, possible blistering, inflammation
and possible ulceration in severe cases.
Workers suffering from chilblains
should: Avoid scratching, slowly warm
the skin, use corticosteroid creams to relieve
itching and swelling, keep blisters
and ulcers clean and covered.
Employer Recommendations
Employers should take the following
steps to protect workers from cold stress:
• Schedule maintenance and repair jobs
in cold areas for warmer months.
• Schedule cold jobs for the warmer part
of the day.
• Reduce the physical demands of
workers.
• Use relief workers or assign extra
workers for long, demanding jobs.
• Provide warm liquids to workers.
• Provide warm areas for use during
break periods.
• Monitor workers who are at risk of
cold stress.
Provide cold stress training that
includes information about:
• Worker risk;
• Prevention;
• Symptoms;
• The importance of monitoring yourself
and coworkers for symptoms;
• Treatment; and
• Personal protective equipment.
Recommendations for Workers
Workers should avoid exposure to extremely
cold temperatures when possible.
When cold environments or temperatures
can not be avoided, workers should follow
these recommendations to protect
themselves from cold stress:
• Wear appropriate clothing.
• Wear several layers of loose clothing.
• Layering provides better insulation.
• Tight clothing reduces blood circulation.
• Warm blood needs to be circulated to the
extremities.
• When choosing clothing, be aware that
some clothing may restrict movement resulting
in a hazardous situation.
• Make sure to protect the ears, face,
hands and feet in extremely cold
weather.
• Boots should be waterproof and
insulated.
• Wear a hat; it will keep your whole body
warmer. (Hats reduce the amount of
body heat that escapes from your head.)
• Move into warm locations during work breaks; limit the amount of time outside
on extremely cold days.
• Carry cold weather gear, such as extra
socks, gloves, hats, jacket, blankets, a
change of clothes and a thermos of hot
liquid.
• Include a thermometer and chemical hot
packs in your first aid kit.
• Avoid touching cold metal surfaces with
bare skin.
• Monitor your physical condition and
that of your coworkers. ❑
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