Cold-weather safety
by Leslie Kazmierowski
Cold weather has arrived in most parts of the United States, presenting residential (steep-slope) roofing contractors with additional safety challenges. To prevent cold-weather-related injuries and help ensure crews' safety, it is important to be aware of cold weather's harmful effects and how to protect workers against them.
The facts
The four environmental conditions that contribute to cold-weather-related injuries are air temperature, wind velocity, dampness (i.e., humidity) and water (i.e., precipitation). Wind chill, which describes the combined effect of air temperature and wind velocity on exposed skin, is crucial to evaluating outside work conditions. For example, even if the air temperature is 40 F (4 C), the effect on workers' skin is equivalent to 11 F (-12 C) when wind speed is 35 mph (16 m/s).
Prolonged exposure to cold weather can result in physical ailments, such as frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite occurs when skin tissue freezes as a result of cold-weather exposure. Frostbite symptoms include uncomfortable sensations, tingling, stinging, aching and numbness. Ears, fingers, cheeks and noses typically are affected. If a worker suffers from frostbite, crew members should seek medical attention immediately; cover the affected area with a dry, soft bandage; and refrain from massaging or rubbing frostbitten areas—ice crystals in the skin will inflict further damage when rubbed.
If a person's body temperature falls to about 95 F (35 C) and muscular and cerebral functions are impaired, he is said to have hypothermia. Symptoms include shivering, lethargy, mild confusion, dazed or irritable behavior, and slurred speech. If a worker experiences any of these symptoms, it is important to conserve his body heat by placing additional heat sources, such as chemical heat packs or insulated hot-water bottles, on the worker's armpit, neck, chest and groin areas. If a victim is wearing wet clothing, it is critical to remove the wet clothing and dress him in dry clothes because water conducts heat away from the body. Medical attention should be sought immediately if symptoms don't subside.
There are some risk factors that can increase a person's susceptibility to cold-weather-related injuries, including pre-existing medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, vascular and thyroid problems). Certain drugs, such as alcohol, caffeine and nicotine, also can impair judgment and inhibit the body's response to cold weather because they contribute to dehydration—dehydrated people are more susceptible to cold-weather-related injuries.
Prevention
Personal protective equipment will help protect workers against cold weather's effects by providing adequate insulation. When working in cold weather, workers should wear at least three layers of clothing, including:
- An inner layer made of a synthetic-weave fabric to ventilate sweat and other moisture.
- A middle layer of wool or synthetic fabric to help absorb sweat and retain insulation in a damp environment.
- An outer layer of nylon or Gore-Tex™ fabric to block wind and precipitation and allow additional ventilation.
In addition, workers should pay special attention to protecting their hands, faces and heads. Up to 40 percent of body heat can be lost when a person's head is exposed. Footwear should be insulated to protect against cold and dampness. It also is a good idea for workers to have a change of clothing available in case clothes become wet.
Engineering controls also can help reduce the risk of cold-weather-related injuries. During cold weather, you should consider providing on-site heat sources, such as portable heaters and heated shelters, on outdoor work sites. When temperatures are below 30 F (-1 C), insulating equipment handles with tape or other thermal insulating materials and shielding projects from wind also help prevent cold-weather-related injuries.
Safe work practices can help combat cold weather's effects, as well. It is important you allow workers to adjust to the cold before they begin a full work schedule. You also should plan outdoor work during the warmest hours of the day. And employees should pace themselves, take extra breaks as needed and monitor each other when working in cold weather.
Being aware of the facts about cold-weather exposure and following a few commonsense guidelines can ensure workers are safe and healthy during cold-weather working conditions.
Leslie Kazmierowski is NRCA's insurance programs manager
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