What is Cold Stress? Is It Dangerous to Work in Extreme Cold Conditions?
The UK experiences a temperate oceanic climate in which apart from the relatively warmer months of June through September, it is mostly too cold to work in the outdoors without appropriate protective clothing. Working either outdoors in a cold environment or indoors in the refrigerated areas and warehouses over a long period of time may pose serious health threats. Over the last five years, 168,000 deaths due to cold-related illness were recorded in the UK alone, ranking it among the bottom three across Europe. There is a higher risk for people working in maritime, commercial fishing, agriculture, and construction.
While working in such cold conditions, internally, the human body has to work extra to maintain the core temperature of 98.6° F. When the body is unable to achieve it due to lack of proper clothing, exposed body parts, wet clothing, etc., it may fall prey to one or more of cold stress illnesses. Some of the most dangerous cold stress-related illnesses include but are not limited to frostbites, frostnip, chilblains, immersion foot, and trenchfoot.
So, the question of how one can prevent the risk of developing cold stress arises. Wearing layered clothing with a warm woollen cap or hoodie is a good start. Stay hydrated and eat high-calorie food to maintain energy all day. Check out this infographic from Emtraining Solutions that entails various illnesses related to cold stress and other ways to prevent them.