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By Neal Bolton

Waste industry workers don’t have the luxury of going home when the weather turns cold. So in order to keep working safely in spite of the cold, they must understand the risks associated with cold weather. You may already be aware of some of the more common dangers linked to cold weather—carbon monoxide poisoning, frostbite, and hypothermia.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide is often called the “silent killer.” It is an invisible, odorless, and colorless gas that may be created when combustible fuels are burned. Some of the common symptoms may include nausea, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath—and/or headache. In more serious conditions, you may feel dizzy or light-headed. If ignored, carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to death within minutes.

The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning may increase during cold weather because we’re running the furnace and keeping doors and windows tightly closed.

Here are some basic guidelines for the prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning:

Have all furnaces inspected before use.
Maintain some type of ventilation.
Install carbon monoxide detectors in all buildings.
Minimize machine operation inside the shop, and, when machines are running, keep the shop door open or find some way of venting the exhaust to the outside.
Inspect the exhaust system of all machines to prevent exhaust from entering the cab.
Maintain some ventilation while operating any tractor, truck, or other vehicle.

Frostbite
Frostbite is another common cold-weather hazard. Frostbite occurs when body tissue freezes. It usually affects feet, hands, or face, although the damage can often go much deeper. For frostbite to occur, the temperature must be below freezing, but remember that wind chill can affect the temperature you “feel.”

For example, if the temperature is 15˚F and the wind is blowing at 15 miles per hour, the wind chill temperature (what you feel) is 0˚F. Being exposed to any air movement will create some degree of wind chill. The early signs of frostbite may include numbness, and the affected skin may take on a gray or white color. Even after warming up, the damaged skin may swell and turn red (similar to sunburn).

You can prevent frostbite by wearing appropriate cold-weather clothing, keeping your skin covered, staying out of the wind, and keeping warm by drinking plenty of warm liquids. If you suspect frostbite, get to a warm place and seek medical help immediately.

Hypothermia
The word, “hypothermia” may bring to mind visions of sled dogs and the frozen northland. But though hypothermia is more common in very cold climates, it can—and does—occur in moderate climates. Here are some conditions that may put you at risk:

It’s cold. The colder it is, the greater the risk, but hypothermia can occur even when outside temperatures are mild.
You are tired. Fatigue can make you more susceptible to hypothermia.
You get wet. Your risk of getting hypothermia increases when you get wet. Working up a sweat, getting caught in the rain, or being drenched by the water truck when temperatures are 60˚F or colder can cause hypothermia.

The first symptoms of hypothermia can occur when your core temperature drops from its normal 98.6˚F to around 95˚F. These symptoms may include shivering or loss of coordination. If you suspect yourself or someone else to be suffering from hypothermia, follow these steps:

Call 911.
Get the person out of the cold.
Remove any article of wet clothing.

The risks associated with cold weather increase as temperatures drop. Each year in the US there are hundreds of cold-related fatalities. We can’t eliminate cold weather, but, with common sense and judgment, the risks can be minimized.

Neal Bolton is a consultant specializing in landfill operations and management.

MSW - March/April 2007