Anyone working in a cold environment may be at risk of cold stress. Some cannabis industry workers may be required to work outdoors in cold environments and for extended periods, for example, snow cleanup crews outside of a cannabis dispensary or cultivation facility.
Cold stress can be encountered in these types of work environments in the cannabis industry. The following frequently asked questions will help cannabis industry workers understand what cold stress is, how it may affect their health and safety, and how it can be prevented.
How cold is too cold?
What constitutes extreme cold and its effects can vary across different areas of the country. In regions that are not used to winter weather, near-freezing temperatures are considered “extreme cold.” A cold environment forces the body to work harder to maintain its temperature.
Whenever temperatures drop below normal and wind speed increases, heat can leave your body more rapidly. The wind chill is the temperature your body feels when air temperature and wind speed are combined. For example, when the air temperature is 40° F, and the wind speed is 35 mph, the effect on the exposed skin is as if the air temperature was 28° F.
Cold stress occurs by driving down the skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature (core temperature). This may lead to serious health problems and may cause tissue damage, and possibly death.
What are the risk factors that contribute to cold stress?
Some of the risk factors that contribute to cold stress are:
- Wetness/dampness, dressing improperly, and exhaustion
- Predisposing health conditions such as hypertension, hypothyroidism, and diabetes
- Poor physical conditioning
How does the body react to cold conditions?
In a cold environment, most of the body’s energy is used to keep the internal core temperature warm. Over time, the body will begin to shift blood flow from the extremities (hands, feet, arms, and legs) and outer skin to the core (chest and abdomen).
This shift allows the exposed skin and the extremities to cool rapidly and increases the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Combine this scenario with exposure to a wet environment, and trench foot may also be a problem. The most common cold-induced illnesses and injuries:
- Hypothermia
- Frostbite
- Trench Foot
What is hypothermia?
Hypothermia occurs when body heat is lost faster than it can be replaced and the normal body temperature (98.6° F) drops to less than 95°F.
Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40° F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water. What are the symptoms of hypothermia?
Mild Symptoms
- An exposed worker is alert.
- He or she may begin to shiver and stomp the feet to generate heat.
Moderate to Severe Symptoms
- As the body temperature continues to fall, symptoms will worsen and shivering will stop.
- The worker may lose coordination and fumble with items in the hand, becoming confused and disoriented.
- He or she may be unable to walk or stand, the pupils become dilated, pulse and breathing become slowed, and loss of consciousness can occur. A person could die if help is not received immediately.
What can be done for a person suffering from hypothermia?
- Call paramedics immediately in an emergency; otherwise, seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
- Move the person to a warm, dry area.
- Remove wet clothes and replace them with dry clothes, cover the body (including the head and neck) with layers of blankets; and with a vapor barrier (ex. tarp, garbage bag). Do not cover the face.
- If medical help is more than 30 minutes away:
- Give warm sweetened drinks if alert (no alcohol), to help increase the body temperature. Never try to give a drink to an unconscious person.
- Place warm bottles or hot packs in armpits, sides of the chest, and groin. Call emergency services for additional rewarming instructions.
If a person is not breathing or has no pulse:
- Call for emergency medical assistance immediately.
- Treat the worker as per instructions for hypothermia, but be very careful and do not try to give an unconscious person fluid.
- Check him/her for signs of breathing and a pulse. Check for 60 seconds.
- If after 60 seconds the affected worker is not breathing and does not have a pulse, trained cannabis industry workers may start rescue breaths for 3 minutes.
- Recheck for breathing and pulse, check for 60 seconds.
- If the worker is still not breathing and has no pulse, continue rescue breathing.
- Only start chest compressions per the direction of the emergency operator or medical services.
- Reassess the patient’s physical status periodically.
What is frostbite?
Frostbite is an injury to the body that is caused by the freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. The lower the temperature, the more quickly frostbite will occur. Frostbite typically affects the extremities, particularly the feet, and hands. Amputation may be required in severe cases. Symptoms of frostbite:
- Reddened skin develops gray/white patches.
- Numbness in the affected part.
- Feels firm or hard.
- Blisters may occur in the affected part, in severe cases.
What can be done for a person suffering from frostbite?
- Follow the recommendations described above for hypothermia.
- Do not rub the affected area to warm it because this action can cause more damage.
- Do not apply snow/water. Do not break blisters.
- Loosely cover and protect the area from contact.
- Do not try to rewarm the frostbite area before getting medical help; for example, do not place it in warm water.
- If a frostbitten area is rewarmed and gets frozen again, more tissue damage will occur. It is safer for the frostbite area to be rewarmed by medical professionals.
- Give warm sweetened drinks, if the person is alert. Avoid drinks with alcohol.
What is immersion/trench foot?
Trench Foot or immersion foot is caused by prolonged exposure to wet and cold temperatures. It can occur at temperatures as high as 60° F if the feet are constantly wet. Non-freezing injury occurs because wet feet lose heat 25 times faster than dry feet.
To prevent heat loss, the body constricts the blood vessels to shut down circulation in the feet. The skin tissue begins to die because of a lack of oxygen and nutrients and due to the buildup of toxic products. Symptoms of trench foot:
- Redness of the skin, swelling, numbness, blisters.
What can be done for a person suffering from immersion foot?
- Call paramedics immediately in an emergency; otherwise, seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
- Remove the shoes, or boots, and wet socks.
- Dry the feet.
How can cold stress be prevented?
Although occupational safety does not have specific standards that cover working in cold environments, employers have a responsibility to provide cannabis industry workers with employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards, including cold stress, which are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to them.
Employers should, therefore, train workers on the hazards of the job and safety measures to use, such as engineering controls and safe work practices, that will protect workers’ safety and health.
1) Employers should train workers on how to prevent and recognize cold stress illnesses and injuries and how to apply first aid treatment. Workers should be trained on the appropriate engineering controls, personal protective equipment, and work practices to reduce the risk of cold stress.
2) Employers should provide engineering controls. For example, radiant heaters may be used to warm workers in outdoor security stations. If possible, shield work areas from drafts or wind to reduce wind chill.
3) Employers should use safe work practices. For example, it is easy to become dehydrated in cold weather. Employers, therefore, can provide plenty of warm sweetened liquids to workers. Avoid alcoholic drinks. If possible, employers can schedule heavy work during the warmer part of the day.
Employers can assign workers to tasks in pairs (buddy system) so that they can monitor each other for signs of cold stress. Workers can be allowed to interrupt their work if they are extremely uncomfortable. Employers should give workers frequent breaks in warm areas.
Acclimatize new workers and those returning after time away from work, by gradually increasing their workload, and allowing more frequent breaks in warm areas, as they build up a tolerance for working in a cold environment. Safety measures, such as these, should be incorporated into the relevant health and safety plan for the workplace.
4) Dressing properly is extremely important to prevent cold stress. The type of fabric worn also makes a difference. Cotton loses its insulation value when it becomes wet. Wool, silk, and most synthetics, on the other hand, retain their insulation even when wet.
The following are recommendations for working in cold environments:
- Wear at least three layers of loose-fitting clothing. Layering provides better insulation. Do not wear tight-fitting clothing.
- An inner layer of wool, silk or synthetic to keep moisture away from the body.
- A middle layer of wool or synthetic to provide insulation even when wet.
- An outer wind and rain protection layer that allows some ventilation to prevent overheating.
- Wear a hat or hood to help keep your whole body warmer. Hats reduce the amount of body heat that escapes from your head.
- Use a knit mask to cover the face and mouth (if needed).
- Use insulated gloves to protect the hands (water resistant if necessary).
- Wear insulated and waterproof boots (or other footwear).
Safety Tips for Cannabis Industry Workers
- Your employer should ensure that you know the symptoms of cold stress.
- Monitor your physical condition and that of your coworkers.
- Dress properly for the cold.
- Stay dry in the cold because moisture or dampness, e.g. from sweating, can increase the rate of heat loss from the body.
- Keep extra clothing (including underwear) handy in case you get wet and need to change.
- Drink warm sweetened fluids (no alcohol).
- Use proper engineering controls, safe work practices, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provided by your employer.
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