WCB Alerts Workers and Employers about Cold Stress

The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) cautions workers and employers about the dangers associated with working in cold temperatures. Working outside in the winter, places workers at risk of experiencing cold stress which can occur when the body is exposed to excessive cold, windy or wet conditions.

George Stewart, Director of Occupational Health and Safety for the Workers Compensation Board, said "where there is a risk of injury from the cold, the employer is required to take precautions to ensure worker health and safety. Ultimately, workers need to be trained and equipped to avoid occurrences of cold stress." Stewart emphasized that a "cold stress related condition such as hypothermia is extremely dangerous because it can happen so slowly that it is unnoticeable to the victim. Education and awareness are, therefore, a necessity."

The following are some of the basic guidelines to reduce the risk of Cold Stress:

• Cover your head. 50% of heat can be lost through the head.
• Wear layered clothing. Layers trap warm air and help to retain heat.
• Pace yourself if you have physically demanding work to do. Fatigue will contribute to hypothermia.
• Protect your hands and feet.
• Set up shelters to block wind where possible.
• Take breaks in a heated building and increase the frequency of breaks where the cold or wind is more intense.
• Drink plenty of warm fluids.
• Educate workers about the signs and symptoms of hypothermia as well as its prevention.

Carol Anne Duffy, Chief Executive Officer for the Workers Compensation Board, said "it is key that workers and employers are made aware of the dangers associated with cold stress and the ways it can be prevented. By working together we can create a culture of safety on Prince Edward Island where workplace injury and illness become a thing of the past." For more information on cold stress contact the Workers Compensation Board at 1-800-237-5049 or see the WCB Guide to Cold Stress at Work at www.wcb.pe.ca.

For more information, contact Barbara Groome Wynne, WCB Communications Officer at blgwynne@wcb.pe.ca, 902-894-0362, or toll-free 1-800-237-5049.