Thermal Comfort Web

GUIDANCE ON WINTER WORKING
Thermal Comfort in Cold Weather
www.rmt.org.uk
INTRODUCTION
Workplace temperatures are governed by the Workplace (Health, Safety &
Welfare) Regulations 1992 which place a duty on employers to ensure that
there is a ‘reasonable’ temperature. This is further supported by the
Approved Code of Practice which states that a minimum temperature
should be 16°C for sedentary work or 13°C for more vigorous activities.
There is no minimum stipulated for outdoor working but the Management
of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to assess
the risk to health and safety of their employees arising out of their work
activity. Employers should carry out thermal risk assessments for outdoor
activities.
HEALTH RISKS
There are a variety of health risks associated with being cold for long
periods of time and these are not limited to:
• Non-freezing injuries
• Freezing injuries
• Chilblains
• Hypothermia
• Frostbite
• Frostnip
Uncomfortably cold working conditions can lead to lower work efficiency

and higher accident rates. Cold impairs the performance of complex
mental tasks. Manual tasks are also impaired because the sensitivity and
dexterity of fingers are reduced in the cold. At even lower temperatures,
the cold affects the deeper muscles resulting in reduced muscular strength
and stiffened joints. Mental alertness is reduced due to cold-related
discomfort. For all these reasons accidents are more likely to occur in very
cold working conditions.
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO COLD
Susceptibility to cold injury varies from person to person. In general,
people in good physical health are less susceptible to cold injury. While
anyone working in a cold environment may be at risk, the following
conditions may make the risk of cold injury greater:
• Age-older adults are more susceptible

• Diseases of the blood circulation system
• Injuries resulting in blood loss or altered blood flow
• Previous cold injury
• Respiratory diseases, such as asthma or bronchitis
• Fatigue
• Consumption of alcohol or nicotine (smoking)
• Use of certain drugs or medication
KEEPING WARM
In order to survive and stay active in the cold, the constant heat loss has
to be counterbalanced by the production of an equal amount of heat. Heat
is both required and produced at the cellular level as a result of complex
metabolic processes that convert food - a primary source of energy - into
glycogen. Glycogen is a substance that is the "fuel" for biochemical
processes underlying all life functions, heat production included.
Factors important for heat production include:
• Food intake
• “Fuel" (glycogen) store
• Fluid balance
• Physical activity
• Shivering - a reflex reaction, which increases the body's heat
production (up to 500%) when necessary. This reaction is limited to a few
hours because of depletion of muscle glycogen and the onset of fatigue
EAT PROPERLY
Balanced meals and adequate liquid intake are essential to maintain body
heat and prevent dehydration. Eat properly and frequently. Working in the
cold requires more energy than in warm weather because the body is
working to keep the body warm. It requires more effort to work when
wearing bulky clothing and winter boots especially when walking through
snow.
DRINK OFTEN
Drink fluids often especially when doing strenuous work. For warming
purposes, hot non-alcoholic beverages or soup are suggested. Caffeinated
drinks such as coffee should be limited because it increases urine
production and contributes to dehydration. Caffeine also increases the
blood flow at the skin surface which can increase the loss of body heat.
HEAT RETENTION
Heat retention and tolerance to cold also depends on the body's structure,
certain reflex and behavioural mechanisms that retain heat within the
body as well as what you are wearing. Factors that influence heat
retention are:
• Size and shape of the body (surface to volume ratio)

• Layer of fat under the skin (Subcutaneous adipose tissue)
• Decreases in the volume of blood flow through the skin and outer parts
of the body
• Insulation (layering and type of clothing)
HOW TO DRESS WARM

While PPE should be seen as a last resort in protecting workers from the
effects of cold clothing can help protect the body against the harmful
effects of low temperatures. Effective and suitable PPE should be provided
for cold weather work:
• Clothing should be worn in multiple layers which provide better

protection than a single thick layer. The air between the layers provides
better insulation than the clothing itself
• The inner layer should provide insulation and be able to "wick"
moisture away from the skin to help keep it dry. Thermal underwear made
from polyesters or polypropylene is suitable for this purpose. "Fishnet"
underwear made from polypropylene wicks perspiration away from the
skin and is significantly thicker than regular underwear. It also keeps the
second layer away from the skin
• Almost 50 percent of body heat is lost through the head. A wool knit
cap or a liner under a hard hat/uniform hat can reduce excessive heat loss.
• You may prefer to wear one pair of thick, bulky socks or two pairs - one
inner sock of silk, nylon, or thin wool and a slightly larger, thick outer
sock. Liner socks made from polypropylene will help keep feet dry and
warmer by wicking sweat away from the skin. However, as the outer sock
becomes damper, its insulation properties decrease. If work conditions
permit, have extra socks available so you can dry your feet and change
socks during the day. If two pairs of socks are worn, the outer sock should
be a larger size so that the inner sock is not compressed.
• If footwear is provided, it needs to be suitable for standing for long
periods of time and preferably made of leather as it is porous and allows
sweat to escape. Rubber soles provide more comfort for standing for any
period of time.
If the temperature in your workplace cannot be regulated to provide
thermal comfort, i.e with winds blowing through stations which reduce the
ambient temperature even more, then you should be allowed adequate
breaks to warm yourselves.
REGULAR BREAKS
Along with proper clothing, regular breaks being taken in a warm
building, with access to warm drinks, is an effective method of ensuring
better recovery and efficiency. Food containing plenty of carbohydrates
and fats for energy and warmth prior to beginning work can also help.
Wet clothing should be removed as quickly as possible as it can cause both
accelerated heat loss and impair movement.
THERMAL RISK ASSESSMENT

Whatever the circumstances, a thermal risk assessment should be carried
out during cold weather. If you are working in an environment below 16°C
then control measures should be put in place to mitigate the harmful
effects of working in the cold. PPE should be considered as a last resort if
thermal comfort cannot be achieved by any other control measures.
Regular breaks in a warm environment need to be provided for people
working in cold conditions with access to warm drinks.
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GUIDANCE ON WINTER WORKING

Thermal Comfort in Cold Weather

Uncomfortably cold working conditions can lead to lower work efficiency

• Age-older adults are more susceptible

Factors important for heat production include:

• Size and shape of the body (surface to volume ratio)

HOW TO DRESS WARM

• Clothing should be worn in multiple layers which provide better

THERMAL RISK ASSESSMENT

Or scan the QR code

JOIN BRITAIN’S BIGGEST

Visit www.rmt.org.uk to join online

Get the strength of RMT around YOU

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