It’s getting quite cold outside, and there’s every indication that this winter is going to be unusually cold due to the expanding polar vortex
If you’re lucky enough to work indoors, you may not mind the foul weather so much – but many workers have to spend a significant part of their workday in less-than-ideal conditions. Snow crews, emergency responders, sanitation workers, construction workers, landscapers and delivery persons have to figure out how to protect themselves from the cold as best they can.
Otherwise, they may end up with one of the following conditions:
Chilblains
Chilblains are skin lesions that develop in response to a combination of cold exposure and rewarming in cycles, so they’re very common among delivery persons who are constantly moving between the warmth of their vehicles and the cold outside. Symptoms include red or purple skin, swelling, itching and pain.
Trench foot
When it’s damp and cold out, it can be hard to keep your feet dry – especially if you can’t change your socks right away when they get damp. Trench foot can lead to swelling, pain that prevents easy walking, blisters, swelling and open sores. Untreated, trench foot can lead to gangrene and amputations.
Frostbite
Frostbite is a cold-related injury that occurs when body parts are exposed to extreme cold. It typically attacks your extremities, including fingers, toes, nose and ears. With frostbite, ice crystals actually form within skin cells and blood vessels, causing immense damage. Numbness, tingling, pain, blistering and changes in skin color are common – and it can progress to gangrene.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a true medical emergency. It occurs when your body starts losing heat faster than it can create it, lowering your body temperature below normal range. Hypothermia causes shivering, fatigue, weakness, difficulty breathing, a weak pulse and confusion and can quickly lead to death.
If you get injured due to the cold while performing your job duties, you have a right to workers’ compensation benefits. Legal guidance can make it easier to obtain what you’re due.
