In the winter, low temperatures and the wind act together to strip heat from the body leading to cold-related illnesses. The National Weather Service (NWS) has created the wind chill chart to assist in identifying conditions where frostbite, or freezing of the skin, can occur quickly. Those who work outdoors in the winter should be given clear guidance by their employer on the actions to be taken when conditions enter the portions of the chart where frostbite can occur in less than 30 minutes to unprotected skin. Here is the link for the NWS wind chill chart: Understanding Wind Chill

When conditions occur where frostbite can occur within 30 minutes or less, the weather should be monitored and employees informed about the precautions to be taken to prevent frostbite and hypothermia and notified when outside work time should be limited or postponed. With abundant cell phones and weather apps, monitoring for these conditions is easier than ever. The NWS offers real time weather advisories on their website that can be customized to your zip code. Here is the link for the NWS national forecast site: National Weather Service

When working outside in the cold, everyone should be trained to recognize the symptoms of the two primary cold-related illnesses (frostbite and hypothermia), and to be watching co-workers for them. When they are observed, the best action to take is to get the person out of the cold and into a shelter where they can warm up. This could be a heated building or vehicle. They should also be provided a warm drink. If their condition does not improve, then emergency medical services should be called. Here is the link for the American Red Cross fact sheet on cold illness recognition and treatment: Frostbite_and_Hypothermia.pdf

When working outside in the cold, wearing the proper clothing is essential. Clothing should be worn in layers, especially when performing physically demanding work, so layers can be removed when you get hotter and replaced when less active and you get cold. Being wet increases the chances of getting frostbite or hypothermia, so a base layer that can wick away sweat, and an outer shell layer to shed precipitation are both critical. Between them is the insulation layer that needs to be adjusted based on the wind chill temperature. If the temperature will vary throughout the workday, multiple insulation layers may be needed. Added to this, protection for the extremities, the head, face, neck, ears, hands and feet, also needs to be selected based on the wind chill temperature.  Warm and dry footwear is essential to prevent another cold related condition called trench foot, which can occur when feet stay cold and wet for extended periods.  Cotton clothing should be avoided as it absorbs moisture, which can cause the body to cool and contribute to cold related illnesses. Here is the National Weather Service’s cold weather clothing infographic: