AAA Solution, Inc

Some very cold weather is coming, winterize your pressure washers or put them in a heated shop.

Working Safely in Cold Weather

Winter weather can expose outdoor workers to frostbite, hypothermia, and cold stress, all of which can be dangerous and sometimes even fatal. It is important to know the wind chill temperature to better prepare and perform the work safely.

Follow these work practices to stay safe in cold weather:

• Know the symptoms of cold stress; reddening skin, tingling, pain, swelling, leg cramps, numbness, and blisters.
• Dress properly; wear at least three layers of loose-fitting clothing, insulated gloves and boots, and cover your head as well as any bare exposed skin.
• Monitor your physical condition and that of your coworkers.
• Stay dry and pack extra clothes; moisture can increase heat loss from the body.
• Take frequent breaks in warm, dry areas.
• Drink warm liquids. It is common to become dehydrated during cold weather.

Here are some very important do’s and don’ts of combating potential frost bite.

Do:

• Get in to somewhere warm
• Drink warm fluids
• Run cool or Luke warm water over affected area. Hot water can burn your skin as you will be less sensitive to temperature. It is ideal to rewarm skin slowly.
• Remove any wet clothes

Do Not: In severe cases of frost bite, ice crystals can form in the deep tissues of skin. These are activities to avoid.

• Do not walk around on frost bitten feet or ankles
• Do not rub affected skin.
• Do not drink alcohol or use to***co as these can affect your circulation
• Do not disturb blisters