Appendix L
Maintenance Level Guidelines SECTION 6
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
Hypothermia Fatal exposures to cold have been a result of accidental exposure to low air temperatures or from immersion in low temperature water. The single most important aspect of life-threatening hypothermia is the fall in the deep core temperature of the body. Pain in the extremities may be the first early warning of danger to cold stress. During exposure to cold, maximum severe shivering develops when the body temperature has fallen to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. This must be taken as a sign of danger to the workers and exposure to cold should be immediately stopped for any workers when severe shivering becomes evident. Useful physical or mental work is limited when shivering occurs. Besides provisions for total body protection, the recommended objective is to protect all parts of the body with emphasis on hands, feet and head from cold injury. Wind Chill Factors Since prolonged exposure to cold air or to immersion in cold water at temperatures well above freezing can lead to dangerous hypothermia, whole body protection must be provided. 1. Adequate insulated dry clothing to maintain core temperatures above 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit must be provided to workers if work is done in air temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Wind chill and the cooling power of air are critical factors. The higher the wind speed and the lower the temperature in the work area, the greater the insulation value of protective clothing required. 2. Older workers or workers with circulatory problems require special protection against cold injury. The use of extra insulating clothing and/or a reduction in the duration of the exposure period is among the special precautions that should be considered. Employees should be excluded from work at 30 degrees Fahrenheit or below if they are suffering from diseases or taking medications which interferes with normal body temperature regulation or reduces tolerance to work in cold environment. Evaluation and Control of Exposure to Skin For exposed skin, continuous exposure is not permitted when the air speed and temperature result in an equivalent chill temperature of –25 degrees Fahrenheit. Superficial or deep local tissue freezing will occur only at temperatures below 30 degrees Fahrenheit despite wind speed. Time limits recommended for properly clothed workers, for periods of work and rest temperature below freezing are shown in Table 2.
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446 Naperville Park District | 2023 MASTER PLAN
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