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Virginia employers need to be aware of the hazards that weather presents to outdoor workers. Cold stress and trench foot pose problems to the outdoor workplace in winter weather. They are not as serious as hypothermia and frostbite, but can lead to those more hazardous conditions.

Winter weather is likely to be cold and damp, a breeding ground for trench foot. The condition causes burning, itching, and blisters, much like, but not as serious as, frostbite.

Trench foot was noted and named during World War I, and many workers may never have heard of it. It got its name from the trenches of that war, when soldiers would huddle in trenches for days at a time, their feet soaking in cold water.

Both trench foot and cold stress are named as hazards in a new Virginia alert issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA.

Cold stress is, simply, the body’s failure to stay warm. It is important that employees dress in warm, dry clothing to avoid the hazard. The clothes should include layers, the inner ones fitting closely to the body. A hat should be worn, and extremities covered.

Staying dry is a key factor because if the body comes into contact with cold water, it becomes harder for it to maintain its normal warm temperature. Frequent breaks in warm, dry locations are essential. It is best if workers team up on the job. In that way, each worker can monitor the other for signs of cold stress or other cold-related hazards.

In cases of mild forms of cold stress, treatment is relatively easy. Move the victim to a warm place and keep him or her active. Remove any damp clothing and give them warm liquids. Avoid caffeine beverages, including tea, coffee, and cocoa. Caffeine will interfere with the body’s warming process. So will alcohol, which should also be avoided.

More severe cases can lead to hypothermia. Call an ambulance promptly.

Wind chill can turn a moderate thermometer temperature into a dangerous one. Wind chill is the combination of air temperature and wind speed, and the greater the wind speed, the colder the wind chill. Skin reacts to wind chill.

Virginia Cold OSHA

When cold temperatures arrive on the outdoor worksite, employers should be prepared with a plan to cope with the hazards.

Those hazards include trench foot, hypothermia, and frost bite.

OSHA suggests procedures that can be taken to lessen the possibility of these kinds of problems on the job.

The measures address both safe work practices and appropriate clothing. Protective clothes are essential to fighting clothes, and numerous employers will provide workers with cold-weather gear, particularly if they work outside or in freezers for long periods of time.

When it comes to safe practices, awareness is a key element. Supervisors and employees should be trained to spot the signs of cold stress, like disorientation, confusion, and irrational behavior. Workers should be paired, so they can act in a “buddy system” to spot the signs in each other.

Avoidance of caffeine and alcohol is important, because both reduce the body’s ability to fight the cold, as do cigarette smoking and taking certain prescription medications. However, workers should be encouraged to drink plenty of liquids. Dehydration is common during cold weather.

Scheduling can help prevent problems. Employers might schedule work for the warmer parts of the day if possible. It is essential to schedule more breaks during the day as well, in a warm vehicle or shelter, with access to warm, high-calorie foods like pasta.

Heat work areas with radiant heaters to avoid excessive cold, whenever possible. A temporary shelter around a worksite will stop both drafts and wind. Metal handles on equipment should be wrapped in insulating material.

OSHA recommends that clothing be in 3 layers. The innermost can be cotton or a synthetic for ventilation. The middle should be wool or down to absorb sweat and provide insulation, even when it is wet. The outside layer should be Gortex or nylon to act as a windbreaker.

Wear insulated boots or footwear, waterproofed when working in wet conditions. Wear a hat. As much as 40 degrees of body heat is lost when the head is not covered. Insure that clothing is loose to provide better insulation and ventilation, and keep dry clothing ready in a warm place.

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