During the winter months, workers in the waste management industry can face dangerously low temperatures, wet conditions, and windchill exposure in the workplace. When the body is unable to warm itself, serious cold-related illnesses and injuries may occur, leading to permanent tissue damage and even death.
Waste management jobs may have a risk of exposure to the cold. There are many factors that can contribute to heat loss, including temperature, conduction, windchill, radiation, and humidity/evaporation. With a wide variety of cold stress illnesses that can occur, it is vital to understand the range of minor discomforts to life-threatening conditions, including respiratory damage, hypothermia, frostnip, frostbite, and chilblains.
OWMA is committed to continually improving the health and safety of waste management workers. To assist organizations, OWMA has developed the Cold Stress Guideline. This Preferred Management Practice, which is available free to OWMA members, describes the regulatory requirements related to the issue, the practice in the industry, and the preferred practices that minimize risk to the health and safety of workers.
OWMA members can download their copy of the Cold Stress Guideline by clicking here and logging in to the OWMA website.
If you aren’t a member, contact us today by email at mgoulding@owma.org or by phone at 416-674-1542. We would be pleased to set up a meeting to review the benefits of members with OWMA and provide more details on the Cold Stress Guideline.