INTRODUCTION

In regard to agriculture, Abiotic stress is stress produced by natural environment

factors such as extreme temperatures, wind, drought, and salinity. Humankind doesn’t have
much control over abiotic stresses. It is very important for humans to understand how stress
factors affect living things so that we can take some preventative measures. Preventative
measures are the only way that humans can protect themselves and their possessions from
abiotic stress. There are many different types of abiotic stressors, and several methods that
humans can use to reduce the negative effects of stress on living things. So, since we are doing
an informative speech, the topic that we choose for this second project is about “Cold Stress.”
Our target audience is more to employers and workers since we are doing something that
related to workplace issues.

First thing first, workers who are exposed to extreme cold or work in cold environments
may be at risk of cold stress. Cold environments are defined as work conditions with low
temperatures, high wind speed, humidity, and contact with cold water or surfaces. Cold stress is
a very serious condition that occurs when the body can no longer maintain a normal
temperature. A cold environment forces the body to work harder to maintain its temperature as it
draws heat from the body. The results can be serious cold-related illnesses and injuries,
permanent tissue damage or death. For example, those without shelter, outdoor workers, and
those who work in an area that is poorly insulated or without heat. What constitutes cold stress
and its effects can vary across different areas of the country. In regions relatively unaccustomed
to winter weather, near freezing temperatures are considered factors for "cold stress."
Whenever temperatures drop decidedly below normal and as wind speed increases, heat can
more rapidly leave your body. These weather-related conditions may lead to serious health
problems.

There are a few risks factors that contribute to cold stress such as wetness or
dampness, dressing improperly, and exhaustion. It also can predispose our health conditions
such as hypertension, hypothyroidism, and diabetes. It may occur a poor physical conditioning.
Basically, the most common cold induced illness is called Hypothermia, Frostbite, Cold Water
Immersion, Trench Foot and Chilblains. Each type has the symptoms, treatment and how to
prevent it. So, what are we going to explain about this topic are all in this paperwork.

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HOW THE BODY RESPONDS TO COLD ENVIRONMENTS.

When in a cold environment, your body cannot absorb heat from the environment and instead
will lose heat faster than it can be produced. The three major ways the body loses heat to the
cold environment are radiation, convection, and conduction. To a lesser extent, your body also
loses heat to the cold environment through evaporation.

• Radiation -- Your body continuously radiates heat into the surrounding environment. Factors
important in radiant heat loss are the surface area exposed to cold and how great the
temperature difference is between your body and its surroundings. Layering clothing that traps
heat closer to the body helps reduce this loss.

• Convection -- Convection is the loss of heat from the body to the surrounding air as the air
moves across the surface of the body. The rate of heat loss from the skin by contact with cold
air depends on the air speed and the temperature difference between the skin and the
surrounding air. The greater the air speed and the lower the temperature, the greater the loss of
heat.

• Conduction -- Conduction is the loss of heat through direct contact with a cooler object. Heat
loss is greatest if the body is in direct contact with cold water. The body can lose 25 to 30 times
more heat when in contact with cold wet objects than in dry conditions or with dry clothing.
Generally, conductive heat loss accounts for only 2% of overall loss, but with wet clothes, the
loss is increased five times.

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COMMON COLD STRESS ILLNESS.

(A) Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when body heat is lost faster than it can be replaced and the normal body
temperature (98.6°F) drops to less than 95°F.  Hypothermia is most likely at very cold
temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F), if a person becomes
chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.

Symptoms of hypothermia

There is two type of symptoms for hypothermia. The first one will be mild symptoms which is
an exposed worker is alert about it and he or she may begin to shiver and stomp the feet in
order to generate heat. Not only that, fatique and loss of coordination is one of the symptoms for
hypothermia.

The second type of symptoms for hypothermia is moderate to severe. As the body temperature
continues to fall, symptoms will worsen and shivering will stop. Next, the worker may lose
coordination and fumble with items in the hand become confused and disoriented. Moreover, he
or she may be unable to walk or stand, pupils become dilated, pulse and breathing become
slowed, and loss of consciousness can occur. A person could die if help is not received
immediately.

First Aid

Take the following steps to treat a worker with hypothermia:

 Alert the supervisor and request medical assistance.

 Move the victim into a warm room or shelter.

 Remove their wet clothing.

 Warm the center of their body first-chest, neck, head, and groin-using an electric
blanket, if available; or use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets,
clothing, towels, or sheets.

 Warm beverages may help increase the body temperature, but do not give alcoholic
beverages. Do not try to give beverages to an unconscious person.

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(B) Chilblains

Chilblains are caused by the repeated exposure of skin to temperatures just above freezing to
as high as 60 degrees F. The cold exposure causes damage to the capillary beds (groups of
small blood vessels) in the skin. This damage is permanent and the redness and itching will
return with additional exposure.

Symptoms of chilblains

The symptoms of chilblains are redness, itching, possible blistering, inflammation and possible
ulceration in severe cases. Not only is that, changes in skin colour from red to dark blue,
accompanied by the pain one of the symptoms for chilblains.

First Aid

Workers suffering from chilblains should:

 Avoid scratching

 Slowly warm the skin

 Use corticosteroid creams to relieve itching and swelling

 Keep blisters and ulcers clean and covered

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(C) Frostbite

Frostbite occurs when the skin actually freezes and loses water. Frostbite occurs more readily
from touching cold metal objects than from exposure to cold air. The body parts most commonly
affected by frostbite are the face, ears, fingers and toes. When tissue freezes, blood vessels are
damaged causing reduced blood flow that may lead to gangrene. In severe cases, amputation
of the frostbitten area may be required. Frostbite symptoms vary, are not always painful, but
often include sharp prickling sensations. The first indication of frostbite is skin that looks waxy
and feels numb. Once tissue becomes hard, the case is considered a severe medical
emergency. Severe frostbite results in blistering that usually takes ten days to subside. Once
skin is damaged, tissues will always be more susceptible to frostbite in the future.

Symptoms

Symptoms of frostbite include:

 Reduced blood flow to hands and feet (fingers or toes can freeze)

 Numbness

 Tingling or stinging

 Aching

 Bluish or pail, waxy skin

First Aid

Workers suffering from frostbite should:

 Get into a warm room as soon as possible.

 Unless absolutely necessary, do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes-this increases the
damage.

 Immerse the affected area in warm-not hot-water (the temperature should be comfortable
to the touch for unaffected parts of the body).

 Warm the affected area using body heat; for example, the heat of an armpit can be used
to warm frostbitten fingers.

 Do not rub or massage the frostbitten area; doing so may cause more damage.

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(D) Trench Foot

Trench foot, also known as immersion foot, is an injury of the feet resulting from prolonged
exposure to wet and cold conditions. Trench foot can occur at temperatures as high as 60
degrees F if the feet are constantly wet. Injury occurs because wet feet lose heat 25-times faster
than dry feet. Therefore, to prevent heat loss, the body constricts blood vessels to shut down
circulation in the feet. Skin tissue begins to die because of lack of oxygen and nutrients and due
to the buildup of toxic products.

Symptoms

Symptoms of trench foot include:

 Reddening of the skin

 Numbness

 Leg cramps

 Swelling

 Tingling pain

 Bleeding under the skin

 Gangrene (the foot may turn dark purple, blue, or gray)

First Aid

Workers suffering from trench foot should:

 Remove shoes/boots and wet socks.

 Dry their feet.

 Avoid walking on feet, as this may cause tissue damage.

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PREVENTION

1. TRAIN EMPLOYEES FOR THE COLD AND CHANGING WEATHER.

Training sure is a timeless necessity in the workplace. In these colder days, workers must be
trained not only about cold-induced illnesses and injuries, but also to determine environmental
or work site conditions that may cause cold stress. They should be especially trained in
recognizing the signs and symptoms of cold stress or cold-induced injuries like hypothermia and
frostbite.

2. USE A BUDDY SYSTEM.

 Sure, you may want to be left to yourself while working. But, this is not the time to enjoy
solitude while accomplishing your tasks outdoors. You don’t want to be working one minute and
thawing your fingers the next. So get a partner and work on monitoring each other for signs of
cold stress. Don’t be stubborn because most of the time, it’s just difficult to determine danger
signs when you only have yourself to rely on.

3. ADJUST YOUR WORK SCHEDULE TO THE COLD OR CHANGING WEATHER.

 Don’t punish yourself too much. Just because you have to work outside and it feels like
stepping into a walk-in freezer, it doesn’t mean you have to bask in the frigid winds all day.
Schedule work during the warmest part of the day. Break a task into shifts so you can take
frequent, short breaks in warm dry shelters.

4. LAYER CLOTHING.

 At this time of the year, the saying “less is more” surely does not hold true. Well, maybe partly
true since wearing less clothes means getting exposed to more cold-stress-related threats.
Remember that it’s better to go for several thin layers of clothing instead of wearing just a
couple of thick layers. For clothes next to the skin, choose those with synthetic fabrics to avoid
absorption of sweat. An ideal choice is polypropylene. For your outer layer, choose fabrics
made of waterproof and wind-resistant material.

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 5. WEAR COMPLETE PPE (PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT).

 You know you need it. Wear warm gloves, hats and hoods. In extreme conditions, don a warm
woolen hood that covers your neck, head and ears. If you get hot while working, just open your
jacket. Don’t remove your hat and gloves. The key is in wearing clothing that can be adjusted to
changing conditions.Avoid wearing tight-fitting footwear as this restricts blood flow. Your shoes
or boots should allow you to wear either one thick or two thin pairs of socks.

6. EAT AND DRINK HOT OR WARM FOODS AND LIQUIDS.

 You might have to say goodbye to hot coffee and choco for a while. Drinking caffeinated and
alcoholic beverages is not recommended while working in cold weather. Instead, go for warm,
sweet beverages like sports drinks and sugar water. Keep in mind that you are also at risk of
dehydration under cold weather so make it a habit to drink up. Good news, though. You can
feast on hot pasta dishes, soups and other foods rich in calories. Remember, though, that if
you’re sick or under medication, you are more at risk to get cold stress. This is especially true if
you have hypertension, diabetes or a cardiovascular disease.

7. WEAR EYE PROTECTION.

 Ice or snow + excessive ultraviolet rays = eye injury. Yes, this is one proven equation. Before
working outside, check first if you may be exposed to glare or, worse, blowing ice crystals. If
conditions point to the affirmative, then go wear the right kind of eye protection.

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RECOMMADATION

Cold stress occurs when the body temperature cannot be controlled. Exposure to cold
environments, however, can be controlled by wearing protective clothing, following safe work
practices and utilizing engineering controls. All of these can eliminate or reduce the risk of cold
stress.

(A) Protective Clothing

Wearing the right clothing is the most important way to avoid cold stress. The type of fabric also
makes a difference. Cotton loses its insulation value when it becomes wet. Wool, on the other
hand, retains its insulation even when wet.

Protective Clothing Recommendations

• Wear at least three layers of clothing:

1. An inner layer to wick moisture away and to allow ventilation.

2. A middle layer to absorb sweat and provide insulation even when wet.

3. An outer layer to break the wind and allow some ventilation. If in a wet environment,
the outer layer should be water resistant.

• Wear a hat. Up to 40% of body heat can be lost when the head is left exposed (13).

• Wear gloves and insulated boots (ensure boots are water proof if in wet environments).

• Keep a change of dry clothing available in case work clothes become wet.

• Change your socks regularly to ensure they remain dry.

• Do not wear tight clothing. Loose clothing allows better ventilation and does not restrict
movement.

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(B) Work Practices

• Fluid Intake -- Drink plenty of liquids, avoiding caffeine and alcohol. It is easy to become
dehydrated in cold weather.

• Work Schedule -- If possible, heavy work should be scheduled during the warmer parts of the
day and/or alternate indoor and outdoor activities. Take breaks in warm areas.

• Buddy System -- Try to work in pairs to keep an eye on each other and watch for signs of cold
stress.

(C) Engineering Controls

• Radiant heaters may be used to warm workers.

• Shield work areas from drafts or wind.

• Use insulating material on equipment handles, especially metal handles, when temperatures
drop below 30° F (13).

• Heated cabs and operator booths may be used to keep workers warm.

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CONCLUSION

Anyone who works outside on a regular basis knows that at some point or another,
you’re going to experience cold and wet weather conditions. Cold environmental conditions can
affect your body.

OSHA does not have a specific standard that covers working in cold environments,
employers have a responsibility to provide workers with employment and a place of employment
which are free from recognized hazards, including cold stress, which are causing or are likely to
cause death or serious physical harm to them. Employers should, therefore, train workers on
the hazards of the job and safety measures to use, such as engineering controls and safe work
practices, that will protect workers’ safety and health.

So, what can I conclude from this topic is there are many types of cold stress and how to
prevent it from happens. Be aware of the signs or symptoms caused by hypothermia or frostbite
and take appropriate action to correct the situation. If you take action quickly, the effects of cold
stress may be controlled and lessened.

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