KEEPING THE CHILL OUT

摘要

As anyone who's lived or worked in it knows, a cold environment makes everything harder. You fumble with numb fingers under bulky gloves. You slip on the ice. You shiver at the sight of your breath hitting the icy air. Working under extremely cold conditions is not only inconvenient and uncomfortable-it can pose serious threats to your health if you don't take some basic precautions. What's more, the symptoms of cold-related ailments are easy to overlook even though they can cause irreversible tissue damage and even kill in extreme cases. Working in a cold environment can involve several adverse effects on human performance and health. Workers suffering from exposure to the cold can experience thermal discomfort, increased strain, decreased performance, and cold-related diseases and injuries. Cold can also modify or aggravate the risk of common hazards and increase the risk of cold-associated injuries.