Risk situations due to cold exposure in construction usually derive from weather conditions. In other industries, cold is produced artificially, as occurs in food industries or in those where work is carried out inside cold storage chambers.
Following the recent storm that has swept across the peninsula, numerous situations of cold and snow have occurred at many outdoor construction sites. In this article, we will address the risks of cold in construction.
Effects of Cold in Construction
Hypothermia and local frostbite (cheeks, nose, ears, fingers) are the main health effects on people when directly exposed to cold. Musculoskeletal disorders can also occur. Shivering and vasoconstriction are reactions of the human body to increase internal heat generation. However, general cooling of the body (hypothermia) occurs when it drops below 35 degrees Celsius. This can lead to fainting, coma, or death.
In any case, several factors influence the assessment of cold risk. On one hand, the individual characteristics of each person. Among these, we can highlight factors such as age or anthropometry. Each person’s habits also influence the effects of cold exposure. Inadequate nutrition due to insufficiency or consumption of alcoholic beverages can have an impact.
On the other hand, factors that increase the sensation of cold, such as wind or humidity. Exposure time also has an influence.
Cold Exposure Situations in Construction
First of all, we must consider what we understand by cold exposure. A situation of thermal discomfort is considered to be one in which temperatures are below 15 degrees Celsius. Likewise, we would be in a situation of immediate risk at temperatures below 5 degrees, especially negative temperatures.
Outdoor Work
The most common form of cold exposure in construction derives from outdoor work. This is because most work is carried out in the open air. It affects workers on highways and road maintenance, electrical line maintenance, etc.
Indoor Work
As we have already mentioned, there are various industrial jobs in which cold exposure exists. This is normally artificial cold derived from the need for low temperatures in certain industrial processes. Many construction jobs must be carried out in this type of industry. When carrying out the works, it is not always possible to stop the cold systems, so preventive measures must be adopted for cold exposure indoors.
Preventive Measures Against Cold Exposure in Construction
Appropriate clothing is an extremely important factor. It must be suitable for the weather conditions. It should be clothing that prevents perspiration. It is good to wear several layers, and for outdoor work it must repel water. If necessary, wet clothing should be replaced with dry clothing.
A series of good practices is also recommended, such as staying active and moving to maintain body heat. It is also good to hydrate periodically with hot beverages.
The Importance of Ergonomics
Cold exposure is one of the risks that increases if measures to adapt the workplace to people are not adopted. It is extremely important to adopt organizational measures. Proper planning of work is essential to avoid exposure as much as possible. The difficulty that exists when cold exposure depends on weather conditions is evident, but it is advisable to take this into account and ensure that work is carried out during the central hours of the day.
Adopting technical measures is also a way to adapt the workplace to people. It is advisable to have automatic mechanisms that reduce manual workload or to place insulation on metal surfaces. It is also important to have tools and equipment that can be used properly with gloves. These are technical measures that allow work to be adapted.
The work of the safety and health coordinator in this task is very important. It is important that these general measures are adapted to the conditions of each construction site. The work of the different companies participating in the project must be coordinated so that organizational measures can be implemented to avoid cold exposure in construction.
