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Site Safety and Health Plan Stockton Field Maintenance Shop #24 8020 Airport Way, Stockton, CA 9.2 COLD STRESS Fatal exposures to cold among workers commonly result from accidental exposures involving failure to escape from low environmental air temperatures or from immersion in low temperature water. The single most important aspect of life-threatening hypothermia is a fall in the deep core temperature of the body. Workers should be protected from exposure to cold so that the deep core temperature does not fall below 36° Celsius (C) (96.8°F); lower body temperatures will likely result in reduced mental alertness, reduction in rational decision making or loss of consciousness with the threat of fatal consequences. Pain in the extremities may be the first early warning of danger to cold stress. During exposure to cold, severe shivering develops when the body temperature has fallen to 35°C (95°F). This must be taken as a sign of danger to the workers and exposure to cold should be immediately terminated for any workers when severe shivering becomes evident. Useful physical or mental work is limited when severe shivering occurs. Since prolonged exposure to cold air or to immersion in cold water at temperatures well above freezing can lead to dangerous hypothermia, whole body protection must be provided. Adequate insulating dry clothing to maintain core temperatures above 36°C (96.8°F) must be provided to workers if work is performed in air temperatures below 4°C (40°F). Wind chill cooling rate and the cooling power of air are critical factors. Wind chill cooling rate is defined as heat loss from a body expressed in watts per meter squared, which is a function of the air temperature and wind velocity upon the exposed body_ The higher the wind speed and the lower the temperature in the work area, the greater the insulation value for the protective clothing required. Unless there are unusual or extenuating circumstances, cold injury to other than hands, feet, and head is not likely to occur without the development of the initial signs of hypothermia. Older workers or workers with circulatory problems require special precautionary protection against cold injury. The use of extra insulating clothing and/or a reduction in the duration of the exposure period are among the special precautions that should be considered. The precautionary actions to be taken will depend upon the physical condition of the worker and should be determined with the advice of a physician with knowledge of the cold stress factors and the medical condition of the worker. For exposed skin, continuous exposure should not be permitted when the air speed and temperature results in an equivalent chill temperature of -32°C (-25.6°F). Superficial or deep local tissue freezing will occur only at temperatures below -1°C (30.2°F) regardless of wind speed. It is imperative that workers who become immersed in water or whose clothing becomes wet be immediately provided a change of clothing and treated for hypothermia, when air temperatures are 2°C (35.6°F) or less. 30 Star Resources Corp