ASSOCIATIONS
11
Safety alert: don’t give
safety the cold shoulder!
Working in a cold environment can
involve several adverse effects on human
performance and health.
Workers suffering from exposure to the
cold can experience thermal discomfort,
increased strain, decreased performance
and cold-related diseases and injuries.
Cold also can modify or aggravate the risk
of common hazards and increase the risk of
cold-associated injuries.
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS?
Cold temperatures have hazardous effects on
humans and their ability to work well. When
the body is exposed to cold temperatures, the
negative effects can include:
• Dehydration
• Numbness
• Shivering
• Frostbite
• Immersion foot
• Hypothermia.
When the body’s core temperature drops
below 35°C, it is defined as hypothermia.
Hypothermia is a dangerously low body
temperature. It occurs when more heat is
lost than the body can generate. It is usually
caused by extended exposure to the cold.
Hypothermia can kill amazingly fast when cold
temperatures and strong winds cause the
body to quickly lose heat.
TIPS FOR WORKING IN THE COLD
• Eat properly with plenty of carbohydrates
and fats for energy and warmth prior to
beginning work.
• Drink fluids. If a person doesn’t get up
in the night at least once to urinate then
they are not drinking enough. Urine
should be a pale yellow, straw-like colour,
not dark.
• Get enough sleep. Outdoor work is hard
and cannot be done on only a few hours
of sleep. Being well rested will make
employees feel energised and positive.
• Remove any wet clothes immediately.
They cause accelerated heat loss and
impair movement.
• Insulate well, particularly the head and
neck, as these are the areas that lose the
most heat the quickest.
• Wear proper winter clothing that
insulates from the cold and lets
perspiration evaporate while protecting
from the wind and rain. Protect feet and
toes. Wear two layers of socks — cotton
underneath a pair of wool socks is best
— with a pair of well-fitted boots that
come above the ankle.
• Hand protection is vital. Mittens are
warmer than gloves, but can limit
dexterity. Wear a pair of gloves under a
pair of mittens for warmth, and remove
mittens to use gloved fingers as needed.
WHAT TO KNOW:
Employees who are wearing inappropriate
clothing are at higher risk for hypothermia, as
are employees who are wet, tired, dehydrated
or suffering from malnutrition. The risk of
hypothermia is greater if alcohol is consumed,
because alcohol makes blood vessels dilate,
providing a larger surface area through which
heat can be lost. FINAL NOTE
In some parts of the country it may be
colder than others, and you may feel that by
protecting yourself you may open yourself up
to ridicule from your peers. But remember, the
effects of injuries due to cold or cold-related
issues will be far worse. Protect yourself, and
others! Safety starts with you. PA
www.plumbingafrica.co.za June 2019 Volume 25 I Number 4