6. Management of the occupational activities in the cold

The International Standard ISO 15743 [21] deals with the risk assessment and management in a cold environment. It gives both theory and practical tools (checklists, guidelines, examples) to manage the occupational activities in the cold, minimizing the risk of appearance of coldrelated injuries. The International Standard ISO 12894 [22] gives details and recommendations on the medical supervision of people, exposed to extreme cold.

The management of the occupational activities in a cold environment helps people to perform their work. Preliminary and regular screening, made by professionals in occupational health, helps to avoid the risk of cold-related injuries due to health limitations of the workers or accumulation of cold strain. Information and training of the workers for activities in a cold environment are inseparable parts of their occupational training. All employees of the company/organization, carrying out activities in the cold, should be trained to identify, access, and manage the risks at work, related to the cold exposure [21].

There are three groups of factors, which are important for the management of the occupational activities in the cold:


The Microwire™ technology of Gerbing uses thin conductive filaments, coated with Teflon® that form heating panels, incorporated in clothing items. In jackets the panels are placed on the back, chests, and collar. Incorporated in gloves, the Microwire™ heating panels help sustaining the finer finger movements as long as possible. PrimaLoft® microfibers are applied for insulation, while a breathable Aquatex™ membrane assures the waterproofness of the system. A heating panel can reach a temperature of 57–63°C, powered by a 7 V or 12 V batteries.

Smart clothing for cold protection is also produced by Venture Heat: heated jackets, gloves, and basic line shirts and pants. The incorporated heating panels are made of micro-alloy fibers, powered by rechargeable Li-ion battery. Highly breathable layers from inside and breathable waterproof layers from outside the heating panels are used to assure the body's thermophysiological comfort. The heated gloves of Venture Heat can protect the hands from the cold up to 5 h, depending on the temperature, the applied heating power, and the body's activity. A heated scarf, which can be added to the clothing ensemble, may ensure cold protection from 2 to 6 h. The scarf is made of 100% polyester fibers, and a carbon fiber heating source is placed at

The heated jacket of Flexwarm uses a technology that can add to the efforts of the body's thermoregulatory system to ensure the thermophysiological comfort. Two types of sensors are placed in the jacket: sensors that control the temperature of the body and sensors that detect the temperature of the surrounding air. The heating panels can be separately controlled. Their thickness is equal to the thickness of cotton fabrics, 0.5 mm. The wearer can control the temperature of the panels, which can be heated up to 65°C. Due to the flexible Flexwarm® heating layer, the cold protection garments can be rolled or twisted without a risk of damage.

The International Standard ISO 15743 [21] deals with the risk assessment and management in a cold environment. It gives both theory and practical tools (checklists, guidelines, examples) to manage the occupational activities in the cold, minimizing the risk of appearance of coldrelated injuries. The International Standard ISO 12894 [22] gives details and recommendations

The management of the occupational activities in a cold environment helps people to perform their work. Preliminary and regular screening, made by professionals in occupational health, helps to avoid the risk of cold-related injuries due to health limitations of the workers or accumulation of cold strain. Information and training of the workers for activities in a cold environment are inseparable parts of their occupational training. All employees of the company/organization, carrying out activities in the cold, should be trained to identify, access, and

There are three groups of factors, which are important for the management of the occupational

Wireless heat control can be used, adjusted by a smart phone application.

6. Management of the occupational activities in the cold

on the medical supervision of people, exposed to extreme cold.

manage the risks at work, related to the cold exposure [21].

activities in the cold:

the center of the scarf (in the neck zone).

232 Occupational Health

• Organizational factors: work-rest schedule and adequate shelter

Actually, the second and the third groups of factors have to counterbalance the environmental factors, so as to minimize the cold-related health problems of the workers.

One of the approaches to estimate the severity of the environmental factors is to assess the windchill temperature. It is very appropriate for application in outdoor environment and indoor freezers with fast-moving cold air [23]. The wind speed increases the effect of the low ambient temperature, and the cold, felt by humans, is stronger than supposed for the given air temperature.

The International Standard ISO 11079 [24] gives a tool for designing and management of the activities in cold environments. It defines required clothing insulation (IREQ) index, which allows to predict the necessary clothing insulation to protect the human body in a given cold environment, assessing all environmental factors together with the activity. The IREQ index determined the cold stress at two levels: neutral, which corresponds to the thermophysiological comfort of the human body, and minimal, related to the situation when cold strain already appears, the body is constantly cooling, but the thermoregulatory system of the body still can react and maintain the core body temperature within the desired limits.

Activity is very important in a cold environment, as it produces the necessary heat for warming the core body. However, the contact with cold surfaces increases the heat losses from the body: these can be either handling materials or tools or work in a sitting or kneeling posture on cold surfaces. The exposure to wet environment or precipitation increases the heat losses through the clothing layers as they lose their insulation abilities faster when wet. The inside clothing items and especially the underwear to stay dry during the cold exposure is therefore important: an overheating of the body due to activity in the cold may be likewise dangerous.

The duration of the cold exposure is of crucial importance for the seamless occupational activities in the cold. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has adopted a schedule for periods of work and breaks, developed by the Saskatchewan Department of Labor in Canada [25]. However, the "work warm-up schedule" is based on the environmental factors only and does not account with the individual factors (clothing and activity). The International Standard ISO 11079 [24] introduces the Duration of Limited Exposure index, which allows to calculate the time of the cold exposure, based on the environmental and personal factors. The Recovery Time index is used to predict the time needed for sheltering, which is enough for the body to warm up before continuing the cold exposure.

## 7. Conclusions

A number of occupations involve substantial exposure to cold environment, natural or artificial. Working in the cold is related to many adverse effects for the human body, health, and productivity. The knowledge about the thermoregulatory reactions of the body in a cold environment and the associated risks of thermal discomfort, cold strain, and injuries helps workers and employers to make a stand against the cold. The selection of the proper insulating clothing, maintenance of continuous activity, and regular shelter for heating the body are the keys to the comprehensive management strategy for protection of people during occupational activities in the cold.
