How cold is too cold for construction workers?
Do you know how cold is too cold for construction workers? A cold environment forces the body to work harder to maintain its temperature. When the outdoor temperature drops and wind speed increases, heat can leave your body more rapidly.
Wind chill is the temperature your body feels when air temperature and wind speed are combined. For example, when the air temperature is 40°F and the wind speed is 35 mph, the effect on exposed skin is as if the air temperature were 28°F.
Cold stress occurs when your skin temperature falls below a normal range, and then your internal body temperature plummets. This may lead to serious health problems, such as tissue damage, and can even result in death.
To find out how cold is too cold for construction workers and for more information from OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) about how to prevent cold stress, click here.