Factors That Contribute to Cold Stress

How workers react to cold temperatures may vary across regions or between different work tasks. For example, a worker who is accustomed to cold temperatures will have a different reaction to cold stress than that of a worker who is used to warmer working conditions. When temperatures drop below what is normal for your workers, or if wind speeds increase, workers may suffer from cold stress.

The following factors increase the risk of cold stress:

• Wetness or dampness, such as that from rain, sweat, or submersion in water
• Insufficient or inappropriate clothing
• Exhaustion
• Preexisting health conditions such as hypertension, hypothyroidism, and diabetes
• Poor physical health or conditioning

To learn more about Oil & Gas Extraction visit our Oil & Gas Extraction Safety Online Training web page.