Cold exposure at work can lead to cold stress, hypothermia or local cold injury such as frostbite. Recognising early warning signs helps teams act quickly.
Warning signs
- Cold stress or hypothermia: shivering, confusion, slow reactions, tiredness or slurred speech.
- Frostbite: pale, grey or numb skin, often on fingers, toes, ears or nose.
First steps
Move the person to a warm place, remove wet clothing and warm them gradually. Do not rub frozen skin. If someone is confused, very cold, drowsy or has suspected serious frostbite, seek urgent medical help.
Prevention
- Use warm, dry clothing and protect hands, feet and head.
- Plan warm-up breaks and task rotation.
- Train staff to report symptoms early.
- Consider heated workwear as a comfort layer where appropriate.
This article is general information and not medical advice or first-aid training.
