1. Cold Weather Safety and Injury Prevention
League of Nebraska Municipalities-Utilities Section

2. When Does Your Work Day Start?

3. The Night Before?

4. After a Good Nights Sleep?
How Much Sleep is Enough?
4 Hours?
6 Hours?
Eight Hours?
Body needs time to recharge!

5. After A Nutritious Breakfast?

6. After Coffee Break?

7. After Tailgate or Morning Sessions?

8. Planning Ahead News Updates Good Nights Sleep Avoid Alcohol
Nutritional Breakfast
Wear Proper PPE
Work Scheduling (task rotation, limit exposure, periodic breaks, meals, liquids)
Monitor conditions (weather, employees)
Equipment Inspection (initial, cont., end)

9. Emergency Storm Damage

10. Water Leak Repairs

11. Risk Factors For Cold Weather Injuries
Low activity
Fatigue/sleep deprivation
Little experience/training in cold weather
Lack of adequate shelter/clothes
Lack of provisions/water
Previous cold injuries or other significant injuries and/or illnesses (Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, Hypertension)
Use of tobacco/nicotine or alcohol
Skipping meals/poor nutrition
Medications

12. Responsibilities
Employers-”Cold Injury Prevention” programs, practices and procedures.
Supervisors-For the health and safety of their employees.
Employees-Preventing individual cold injuries.

13. Supervisors
Ensure all employees are educated about prevention, recognition and treatment of cold weather injuries
Monitor adequacy/progress of implementation of preventive/control measures along with spot checks of clothes, personal protection and hydration
Record, monitor and report indicators of increasing cold risks, for example: Increasing number of cold weather injuries Increased complaints/comments about cold Observations of shivering, signs of cold weather injuries
Evaluate current control measures and strategize new or more efficient ways to keep warm and avoid cold injuries
Discontinue/limit activities/exercise during very cold weather - Use covered vehicles for transport

14. Cold Weather Activities

15. Snow Removal

16. Snow Removal

17. Meter Reading

18. Fueling the City Vehicles

19. Entering Buildings

20. How to Keep Warm in a Cold Office How to Keep Warm in a Cold Office
Use a heater if your company allows it. Heaters work best if you have your own office. They are less effective in open areas with cubicles.
Wear long johns under your clothes--the traditional thermal style of long johns or the silky variety.
Keep a pair of shoes in the office that haven't touched the cold ground outside. If you wear socks with your shoes, change into a new pair of warm socks when you reach your office in the morning.
Buy fingerless gloves to keep your fingers warm when typing or writing
Use hand and foot warmers--small plastic packages that provide warmth for several hours when exposed to the air.
Exercise in an empty kitchen or storage area.
Drink hot tea or coffee.

21. Office and Shop Temperatures
Procedure Changes
Equipment Changes/Additions
Space Heaters
Electric Cords
Surfaces
Items on Heaters
Open Flames-Candles
Vehicles Running-CM
Flammables on Water Heaters-Aerosol Cans
Alter Air Flow
Procedure Changes
Thermostat Wars

22. Indoor Temperatures
Specific OSHA regulations do not exist for regulation of indoor office temperatures. However, OSHA recommends: Indoor temperature range of 68 to 76 degrees and humidity control in the range of 20 to 60 percent.

23. Outdoor Activities Dress For: Inactivity Temperature Proper PPE
Limit Exposure Time
Know The Task!

24. CWI Prevention
Ensure appropriate clothes and proper wearing of clothes Remember the acronym C-O-L-D for dressing in the cold and avoiding hypothermia
Keep it Clean
Avoid Overheating
Wear it Loose and in Layers
Keep it Dry
Clothes do not have holes/broken zippers etc.
Hands, fingers and head are covered and protected
Avoid spilling liquids on skin or clothes
Eat all meals to maintain energy
Drink water and/or warm nonalcoholic fluids to prevent dehydration

25. Cold Environment Cold Weather Hazards Cold (temperatures below 400 F)+
Wet (rain, snow, humidity)
Wind (>5mph) =
Increased Risk For Cold Weather Injuries

26. Wind Chill Index
Wind Chill The wind chill index gives the equivalent temperature of the cooling power of wind on exposed flesh.
Any movement of air has the same effect as wind (running, or riding in open vehicles).

27. PPE
Any dry clothing (mittens, scarves, masks) or material which reduces wind exposure will help protect the covered skin.
Trench foot injuries can occur at any point on the wind chill chart and are much more likely to occur than frostbite at “LITTLE DANGER” wind chill temperatures, especially on extended exercises/missions and/or in wet environments. Can lead to permanent disability, just like frostbite.

28. Cold Weather Injuries Chilblain - bare skin exposed to cold, humid air
Frostbite - freezing of tissue and body parts
Hypothermia - whole body temperature dangerously low Dehydration - loss of body fluids
Immersion Foot (Trench Foot) - prolonged exposure of feet to damp and wet conditions Injuries
Snow Blindness - Eye injuries due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays reflecting off snow.

29. Cold Weather Injuries (cont.)
Fractures, bruises, concussions resulting from slips, trips, and falls on wet and icy surfaces.
Muscle, Ligament, Tendon Strains
Injuries resulting from unsafe vehicle operations.
Carbon Monoxide poisoning - over exposure to poisonous gases generated by fuel exhaust (gas heaters and poor ventilation)

30. Tips for Working in Cold Weather
Keep Body Warm Keep moving
Exercise big muscles (arms, shoulders, trunk, and legs) to keep warm
Avoid alcohol (impairs the body’s ability to shiver)
Avoid standing on cold, wet ground
Avoid tobacco products which decrease blood flow to skin
Protect Feet Keep socks clean and dry , use foot powder on feet and boots
Carry extra clothes
Avoid tight socks and boots, don’t over tighten
Wear overshoes to keep boots dry

31. Tips for Working in Cold Weather
Protect Face and Ears Cover scarf, wear insulated cap (with flaps over ears)
Warm face and ears-cover with hands.
Do NOT rub face or ears.
Wear sunscreen
Exercise facial muscles
Protect Hands-wear gloves or mittens
Warm hands under clothes if they become numb
Waterproof gloves
Avoid skin contact with snow, fuel or bare metal
"Cold" metal and "warm" wood may be the same temperature.
Your hand is not always a good thermometer. When you touch a variety of materials, some will seem warmer or colder than others, even when they are at the same temperature.

32. Tips Continued
Protect Your Eyes Wear UV rated sunglasses to prevent snow blindness
Protect Each Other Watch for signs of frostbite and other cold weather injuries in your buddy
Ask about and assist with re-warming of feet, hand, ears or face
Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Use only approved heaters in working areas

33. Other Cold Weather Concerns
Slippery Surfaces (Slips, Trips, Falls)
Falling Ice
Equipment Failure
Hauling or Towing
Vehicle Operation
Heaters
Electrical Cords
Stress

34. When is it too cold?
This message came from Stoney River Lodge,   Alaska .  The picture was taken on Jan 5th Minus 51 F

35. Is Alzheimer’s or “Old-Timers” Setting In?

36. Plan Ahead Before You Act
Prepare
Understand The Risks
Make Adjustments
Wear PPE
Take Defensive Actions
Consider Consequences of Those Actions

37. Questions?