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Prevent Fatigue & Frostbite |
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As the weather outside becomes frightful and temperatures continue
to drop, proper hand protection should include gloves designed for
work in cold weather. Very cold temperatures pose specific health and safety risks, including hypothermia and frostbite, reduced muscle flexibility and stiffened joints. Productivity can be affected as reduced blood flow to the extremities reduces the dexterity and the sensitivity of the fingers and hand, according to François Turmel, business development director of Ansell Healthcare Europe, which produces gloves for handling and carrying in cold outdoor environments, for tasks such as public maintenance, construction, refuse collection, transport and shipping, as well as in indoor refrigeration and cooling plants. “This causes workers to apply more grip force to handle tools and objects. The result is that fatigue sets in faster and accident rates are often higher.” Frostbite occurs when the skin actually freezes and loses water. Although death from frostbite is rare, amputation of a frostbitten area may be required, in severe cases. Temperatures of 30ºF and lower can possibly result in frostbite, and it typically affects extremities, mostly hands and feet. In fact, most cases of frostbite happen to people who work outside. When first response workers are exposed to extreme outside elements for prolonged periods of time during rescue work frostbite can occur. Symptoms that occur with frostbite are the
following: What to Look For When Choosing Gloves Overall choice of protective clothing is a major element in protection in cold stress. When considering a winter work glove, fabric choice is important. Although they can be warm, cotton lined gloves can also lose their insulation when they become wet. Wool gloves, however, can retain its insulation even if they do get wet. The best way to determine if these gloves will work
for your needs is to consider these three layers: the
breathable/ventilation layer, the insulation layer and outer shell.
Two common complaints about work gloves are that
they can be too bulky and get in the way, or they are too warm and
cause your hand to sweat. There are gloves on the market that come
with fabrics like 3M’s Thinsulate. It is also important gloves maintain their dexterity while protecting against the elements. Gloves that are leather or lined with synthetic leather can provide warmth as well as offer grip protection. Waterproofing protection for gloves is also another element needed to give true overall protection. If you already have a pair of work gloves that you are comfortable with, there are also options available to turn those gloves into “winter” gloves. Most companies that sell or distribute PPE garments have glove liners. Glove liners like gloves come with many options including insulation and waterproofing. There are also heated glove liners and reusable heat packs available. PPE Standard OSHA’s PPE standard for hand protection, 29 CFR 1910.138, specifies the selection criteria to be used when providing hand protection. However, unlike the other revised PPE standards for eye and face, head and foot protection, the hand protection regulation does not specify criteria for the actual equipment to be provided to employees. The standard states “Employers shall base the selection of the appropriate hand protection on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand protection relative to the tasks to be performed, conditions present, duration of use and the hazards and potential hazards identified.” In other words, its up to the safety officer to use “common sense” to evaluate the types of gloves or hand protection needed to perform an outside cold weather job. As always, it is recommended that individuals as well as supervisors research any given product to test its actual performance in extreme temperatures. Gloves should be inspected before each use to ensure they are not torn, punctured or made ineffective in any way. A visual inspection will help detect cuts or tears, and may indicate deficiencies caused by excessive use or degradation from exposure to chemicals or other substances. OSHA’s Recommendations OSHA provides the following reference guide and recommendations to combat and prevent cold weather injuries. How to protect workers: • Recognize the environmental and workplace conditions that may be dangerous. • Learn the signs and symptoms of cold induced illnesses and injuries and what to do to help workers. • Train workers about cold-induced illnesses and
injuries. |
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