Frigid temperatures and severe wind chills can create increased risk of injury, especially for those who work outdoors. The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) reminds all Islanders and especially outside workers to protect from themselves from cold stress during the extreme winter weather. 

“Risk factors for cold stress include temperature, humidity, wind chill, fatigue, dehydration and lack of acclimatization,” said Bill Reid, WCB Director of Occupational Health and Safety.  “Adequate precautions can help prevent injuries caused by frostbite and hypothermia.”

The WCB recommends that working Islanders take the following precautions to prevent cold stress:

• Dress for the weather.
  • Wear layered clothing with a wind-resistant outer layer.
  • Cover your head.
  • Protect your hands and feet.
• Pace yourself during physically demanding work.
• Set up shelters to block wind where possible.
• Schedule work to be done on warmer days if possible.
• Take breaks in heated buildings.
• Drink plenty of warm fluids.
• Cover metal handles and bars with insulating materials.
• Monitor the temperature and wind and adjust work and breaks accordingly.
• Educate workers on the signs and symptoms of hypothermia as well as its prevention.

For more information about safety matters in the cold, please read the WCB Guide to Cold Stress at Work in the Safe Workplaces section of the WCB website or contact the WCB at 902-368-5680 or 1-800-237-5049 (toll free in Atlantic Canada).