Prolonged exposure to freezing or cold temperatures may cause serious health problems such as trench foot, frostbite and hypothermia. In extreme cases, including cold water immersion, exposure can lead to death. Danger signs include uncontrolled shivering, slurred speech, clumsy movements, fatigue and confused behavior. If these signs are observed, call for emergency help.
OSHA's Cold Stress Card provides a reference guide and recommendations to combat and prevent many illnesses and injuries.
How to Protect Workers
Recognize the environmental and workplace conditions that may be dangerous.
- Learn the signs and symptoms of cold-induced illnesses and injuries and what to do to help workers.
- Train workers about cold-induced illnesses and injuries.
- Encourage workers to wear proper clothing for cold, wet and windy conditions, including layers that can be adjusted to changing conditions.
- Be sure workers in extreme conditions take frequent short breaks in warm dry shelters to allow their bodies to warm up.
- Try to schedule work for the warmest part of the day.
- Avoid exhaustion or fatigue because energy is needed to keep muscles warm.
- Use the buddy system - work in pairs so that one worker can recognize danger signs.
- Drink warm, sweet beverages (sugar water, sports-type drinks) and avoid drinks with caffeine (coffee, tea, sodas or hot chocolate) or alcohol.
- Eat warm, high-calorie foods such as hot pasta dishes.
Workers face increased risks when they take certain medications, are in poor physical condition or suffer from illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension or cardiovascular disease.
Emergency Eyewashes and Showers
Although the OSHA standard for eyewashes and safety showers at 29 CFR 1910.151(c) is brief, it clearly states when this equipment is necessary:
Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.
The ANSI standard Z358.1-2004 "Emergency Eye Wash and Shower Equipment" includes the following requirements:
- Plumbed eyewashes must be capable of delivering at 0.4 gallons per minute for at least 15 minutes. Eye/face washes must be capable of delivering at least 3 gallons per minute.
- Plumbed shower units must provide a flow rate of 20 gallons per minute at 30 pounds per square inch.
- Gravity-fed units must have a bacteriostatic additive added to permit storage of a single water charge for up to six months.
- Employees must have unimpeded access to emergency showers and eyewashes, which should be installed within 10 seconds walking time from the hazard.
- For strong acids or strong caustics, the eye wash should be immediately adjacent to the hazard.
- Tepid water temperatures (moderately warm or lukewarm, no lower than 60 F and below 100 F) should be provided unless an injurious chemical reaction could be caused by warm water.
- Valves on showers and eye wash units must activate in one second or less and have hands-free stay-open valves.
- Employees must be trained in the location and proper use of the equipment.
- Plumbed equipment should be activated weekly for a period long enough to verify operation and ensure that the flushing fluid is available and clear of sediments. The equipment should be tested annually to ensure that it meet the flow requirements.
- Self-contained eyewashes should be visually inspected to determine if the fluid needs to be replaced or supplemented.
- Eyewash spray heads should be protected from airborne contaminants.
- The eyewash and safety shower locations should be identified with a highly visible sign and in a well lighted area.
Eyewash squeeze bottles or personal eyewash units are considered secondary units that can supplement plumbed and self-contained stations, but cannot replace them. They are portable and permit initial first aid by providing for immediate flushing of contaminants or small particles. However, eyewash bottles are very difficult for the user to handle, especially when alone and when both eyes have been exposed. (e.g., holding the eyelids open while handling the unit is awkward). Also, one bottle cannot flush both eyes simultaneously. Since the fluid supply lasts for only a short period of time, the bottle may not able to wash the eyes sufficiently. The main purpose of secondary units is to supply immediate flushing. Once accomplished, the user should proceed immediately to a self-contained or plumbed eyewash and flush for the required flushing/ rinsing period.
Keep a copy of the safety shower or eye wash manufacturer’s instructions. Ensure that the equipment is installed, tested, maintained and used in accordance with these instructions. Also, refer to MSDSs to identify which chemicals are corrosive and how to respond to accidental overexposure. Of course, it’s best to prevent eye injuries in the first place.
Beat the Price Increase
In order to continue to provide you with the most effective, enjoyable, comprehensive, and up-to-date training, the registration fee for many of Environmental Resource Center’s seminars will be increased in 2007. But hurry – this offer will end soon. In 2007 we’ll continue to provide you with value you won’t find elsewhere, such as handbook updates for a full year, our expert Answerline, lunch each day of training, an extra copy of your course handbook on CD, and much more, all at no additional cost. Your favorite instructor will train any number of personnel at your facility on exactly what they need to learn to comply with the latest EPA, DOT, and OSHA requirements.
Alabama Company Fined over $78,000 Following Trench Fatality
OSHA has cited Big Warrior Corp. of Cleveland, Ala., and proposed penalties totaling $78,100, following the investigation of a fatal trench collapse at a work site in Gulfport, Miss.
"This company disregarded its own safety manual requirements and federal safety regulations, with tragic results," said Clyde Payne, OSHA's Jackson, Miss., area director.
On April 27, three Big Warrior Corp. employees were digging under a 54-inch storm sewer when a section of the trench wall collapsed, trapping one worker, who died.
The agency issued one willful citation with a proposed penalty of $56,000 alleging that the employer permitted employees to work in an 8- to 10-foot-deep trench with vertical side walls that were not sloped, shored or supported by the use of a trench box or other protective system. OSHA issues a willful citation when an employer has shown an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations.
The company also received seven serious citations with proposed penalties totaling $22,100. Alleged violations included the following: failing to provide a safe means of entering and exiting the 125-foot-long, 65-inch-wide excavation; lack of safety training for employees working in the trench and performing traffic-control duties; placing excavated materials too close to the edge of the trench; and failing to conduct soil analysis. Serious citations are issued when there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, and the employer knew or should have known of the hazards.
OSHA Cites Georgia Roofing Company for Lack of Fall Protection
OSHA has cited Peach State Roofing, Lawrenceville, Ga., with proposed penalties totaling $56,000 for exposing workers to fall hazards at the Mobile Regional Airport.
"Falls are a leading cause of fatalities in the Southeast," said Ken Nishiyama-Atha, OSHA's Mobile, Ala., area director. "We were able to avert tragedy in this case, but employers need to be aware of safety requirements and the need to protect workers from fall hazards."
During the OSHA inspection, which began April 27, investigators observed workers removing old roofing material and installing new roofing material on a 30-foot-high, flat-roofed building. The employees were exposed to falls from unguarded roof edges and openings in the roof surface.
OSHA issued six repeat citations with proposed penalties totaling $44,000. Alleged violations included failing to have a designated competent person conduct frequent and regular safety inspections at the site; allowing employees to perform various work assignments without fall protection, personal fall-arrest systems or guardrails; lack of safety training for employees; and an improperly installed edge-of-work-surface warning system.
The company also received five serious citations with proposed penalties totaling $12,000 for failing to properly monitor and correct employees when they worked in an unsafe manner; for exposing employees to suspended loads and impalement hazards; and for inadequate warning system stanchions. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew or should have known of the hazards.
$140,000 Fine for Lockout/Tagout Violations
OSHA has proposed $140,000 in fines against DCS Sanitation Management Inc., Cincinnati, for alleged willful violations of workplace safety and health standards at a worksite in Cudahy, Wis.
The investigation, opened in April, resulted in citations issued to DCS alleging two willful violations of federal workplace safety regulations, the first alleging violations that the company failed to provide adequate training to workers on lockout/tagout procedures when employees clean and sanitize equipment and machinery in the facility. The second willful citation alleges that the company failed to isolate all hazardous energy sources and failed to place a lockout or tagout device on machinery during sanitation/cleaning procedures.
"Simply put, companies save lives and avoid horrific injuries by locking out energy sources to machinery under service or repair, and ensuring that all employees understand the procedures involved to keep themselves safe," said George Yoksas, OSHA area director in Milwaukee.
OSHA Fines Battery Manufacturer over $50,000 for Lead Exposures
OSHA has cited U.S. Battery Manufacturing of Augusta, Ga., for alleged safety and health violations observed during inspections conducted in November 2005 and June 2006. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $50,200.
OSHA issued two failure-to-abate citations with proposed penalties totaling $33,600. One citation specified that company employees were exposed to lead concentrations greater than the permissible levels. The second citation noted that the company failed to implement engineering controls and work practices to reduce employee exposure to lead.
"This employer had ample time to reduce employee exposure to lead, but chose to take no corrective action to protect workers," said Gei-Thae Breezley, OSHA's Atlanta-East area director. "The company also received information about engineering controls and how to petition for a modification of abatement."
U.S. Battery Manufacturing also received two repeat citations with proposed penalties totaling $12,600. The citations included failing to implement a respiratory protection program and allowing lead to accumulate in break-room areas. A serious citation with a proposed penalty of $4,000 was issued for failing to make medical examinations and consultations available for each employee exposed to lead.
OSHA Fines Haslett, Mich., Company $116,200 for Workplace Safety and Health Violations
OSHA has proposed $116,200 in fines against Cracker East Corp., Haslett, Mich., for alleged willful and serious violations of workplace safety and health standards during demolition work in Lansing, Ill., in April.
OSHA officials opened an inspection at the site of a bridge-demolition operation in response to information received concerning fall hazards and improper personal protective equipment used for torch cutting on structural steel coated with lead-based paint.
The investigation resulted in citations issued to Cracker East Corp. alleging three willful and 16 serious violations of federal workplace safety and health regulations. The alleged willful violations addressed employee exposure to lead and fall protection. The alleged serious violations included failing to comply with OSHA health standards on lead and personal protective equipment and failure to provide adequate washing and eating areas. Serious safety citations dealt with improper storage, use, and movement of gas cylinders and inadequate fall protection.
"When employers shirk their responsibility to keep the workplace free of such hazards, the results can be tragic for workers and their families," said OSHA area director Gary Anderson, Calumet City, Ill.
OSHA Cites Florida Construction Company after Fatality Investigation
OSHA has cited Roads Inc. of NWF for alleged violations of safety and health standards following the investigation of a fatal accident April 19 in Pensacola, Fla. Proposed penalties total $142,150.
"Trenching remains one of the most hazardous jobs in the construction industry," said James. D. Borders, OSHA's Jacksonville, Fla., area director. "This tragic accident could have been avoided if the employer had followed Occupational Safety and Health Act requirements and regulations."
On the day of the accident, employees installing a new storm drainage system at the Maplewood subdivision detected a strong gas odor. Company officials, however, did not test the atmosphere or report the leak to the gas company. Later that morning, a company employee was instructed to enter the excavation to retrieve a laser surveying instrument from a sewer pipe. The worker was severely burned when an explosion and fire occurred shortly after he entered the pipe. Another worker, standing at the edge of the trench, was slightly burned as the flash fire exited the pipe. The severely burned employee died six days later.
OSHA issued two serious citations directly related to the accident with proposed penalties of $6,650 for failing to test the air when natural gas was known to be present and failing to train employees to recognize hazards associated with trenching and excavation work. Two additional serious citations with proposed penalties of $3,500 were issued for failing to provide workers with proper safety equipment. Serious citations are issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazards.
The company received three willful citations with proposed penalties totaling $132,000. The willful citations included: operating an excavator boom within 10 feet of an overhead power line, exposing workers to electrocution; allowing employees to work in a trench 7 to 15 feet deep without a protective system, such as a trench box or properly shored or sloped walls; and placing excavated materials too close to a trench edge.
OSHA Cites Contractor at Jacksonville, N.C., Marine Corps Air Base for Trenching Hazards
OSHA has cited Hendrix-Barnhill, an excavation contractor in Greenville, N.C., for allegedly exposing workers to trenching hazards at the New River Marine Corps Air Station in Jacksonville, N.C. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $44,500.
A federal OSHA inspector, who was at the base Aug. 22, observed the trenching hazards and began an immediate inspection at the water-treatment plant construction site.
"The quick action taken by this compliance officer likely prevented a tragedy," said Suzanne Street, OSHA's area director in Raleigh, N.C. "Although a portion of the trench wall had collapsed following a heavy rainfall, two company employees were sent into the unprotected trench to dig around a new pipe, so that the sewer inspector could see the connection."
OSHA issued one willful citation with a $42,000 proposed penalty for allowing employees to work in a trench more than 5 feet deep without shoring, sloping or a protective system that would prevent trench walls from collapsing.
The company also received one serious citation with a $2,500 proposed penalty for failing to properly support or protect an existing gas main that ran through the excavation.
Most job safety and health inspections in the state are conducted by the North Carolina Department of Labor; however, federal OSHA retains jurisdiction on military posts and other federal property.
OSHA, Association of Occupational Health Professionals Renew Alliance
"That is just one example of the significance of this alliance and why AOHP and OSHA want to continue this relationship," said OSHA Administrator Ed Foulke, after recently signing a two-year renewal to the alliance. MaryAnn Gruden, past president of AOHP echoed Foulke's sentiments saying that the collaborative efforts with OSHA "has had a voice in the national dialogue to improve workplace health and safety."
The document, entitled "Patient Handling in the Acute Care Setting" provides necessary tools and other resources for healthcare professionals to enable them to implement a safe patient handling program. The Alliance has also provided an avenue for AOHP professionals to offer their expertise to OSHA on several health-related safety and health topics pages, including bloodborne pathogens, health care facilities, and the hospital electronic assistance tool.
The alliance will continue its focus on reducing and preventing exposure to patient-handling hazards, bloodborne diseases, and emergency preparedness in healthcare facilities.
OSHA Cites Davis Wire for Unguarded Equipment and Other Safety Violations
OSHA has cited Davis Wire Pueblo LLC in Pueblo, Colo., for alleged willful and serious violations of safety and health standards. With proposed penalties totaling $287,500, the firm is contesting the citations before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
The comprehensive investigation began April 3 as part of OSHA's Site-Specific Targeting (SST) program and resulted in the issuance of $245,000 in proposed penalties for five willful violations and $42,500 for 17 serious violations.
"Employers must provide a safe and healthful working environment and ensure that all employees are protected from hazardous conditions," said John Healy, OSHA area office director in Englewood, Colo. "This employer is well aware of the standards that will protect workers from the hazards we found during our inspection, yet did not comply with them."
The alleged willful violations address inadequate point of operation machine guarding, unguarded flywheels, unguarded belts and pulleys, unguarded gears, and unguarded chains and sprockets.
The alleged serious safety violations address the improper use of ladders, unguarded open-sided floors, improper disposal of combustible waste; unguarded rotating parts, fan blades and grinders, unguarded live electrical parts; and improper use of compressed air used for cleaning purposes.
Alleged serious health violations include failure to enforce the use of required hearing protection; improper respirator use; overexposure to airborne lead; inadequate respirator training; failure to mark permit-required confined spaces; lack of eye wash stations; and deficiencies in the implementation of the required lead program.
OSHA Fines Domain Inc. $116,500 for Lockout/Tagout and Machine Guarding Violations
OSHA has proposed $116,500 in fines against Domain Inc., New Richmond, Wis., for alleged willful and serious violations of workplace safety standards following an inspection at the dairy, beef and feed-products manufacturing facility where an employee fatality occurred in April.
The investigation resulted in citations issued to Domain Inc. alleging two willful and 14 serious violations of federal workplace safety regulations. The alleged willful violations addressed the company's failure to clearly and specifically develop energy control procedures for servicing and maintaining equipment and the failure to ensure that all hazardous energy sources were locked out. Serious violations addressed other deficiencies in the employer's lockout/tagout program, deficiencies in confined-space programs, noise monitoring and electrical and machine-guarding issues.
OSHA officials opened their investigation on April 14 after receiving information that an employee had died at the facility that day. The employee was cleaning out a mixer and lower-surge hopper during a permit-required confined space entry. A pneumatically-operated drop gate that should have been locked out suddenly activated.
Occidental Chemical Recognized by OSHA for Exceptional Safety and Health Management
Occidental Chemical Corp. Ingleside Plant in Gregory, Tex., has earned recertification in OSHA’s "Star" Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). A recognition ceremony was held at the company's facility on state Highway 361 in Gregory.
"Occidental Chemical Corp. Ingleside Plant has continued to demonstrate excellence in effective safety and health management by achieving VPP ‘Star' status for 15 years," said Frank Strasheim, acting OSHA regional administrator in Dallas. "The company's outstanding effort includes maintaining an injury and illness rate 96% below the national average for their industry."
The Ingleside plant employs about 222 workers, with an additional 150 contract workers on-site. The company manufactures chlorine, sodium hydroxide, vinyl chloride monomer and hydrogen. In addition, the site has a co-generation facility that generates electricity to meet its electrical-power needs. Occidental Chemical Corp. Ingleside Plant is a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based Occidental Petroleum Corp.
The VPP recognizes and promotes effective workplace safety and health management. About 1,400 workplaces throughout the U.S., representing 280 industries, have earned OSHA's highest recognition as participants in the program. Participants typically achieve injury and illness rates lower than average for their respective industry.
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