Work Shifts

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) developed a work and warm-up that takes both air temperature and wind speed into account and provides recommendations on scheduling work breaks and ceasing non-emergency work.

For example, all non-emergency work should cease at the following conditions:

• Air temperatures of -45°F and no wind
• Air temperatures between -40 to 44°F and 5 mph wind
• Air temperatures between -35 to 39°F and 10 mph wind
• Air temperatures between -30 to 34°F and 15 mph wind
• Air temperatures between -25 to 29°F and 25 mph wind

The ACGIH work break schedule applies to any four-hour period of work with moderate to heavy activity. Their recommendations also provide maximum work periods and number of 10-minute warm-up breaks in a warm location based on the air temperature and wind speed.

To learn more about Cold Stress Safety visit our Cold Stress, Illness & Injury Safety Online Training web page.