FEBRUARY 2022
Upper Midwest winters are known for biting cold, chilling winds, ice, snow, and sleet. For those in agriculture, especially those working with livestock, the work doesn’t stop in the winter – making cold conditions not only a challenge but a serious hazard on the farm. While working through the winter chill may be tempting, cold, wet, and windy conditions can be dangerous, potentially leading to severe illnesses, injuries, or death.
Cold stress occurs when the body loses heat and cannot warm itself. Four factors contribute to cold stress: cold temperatures, high or cold wind, dampness, and cold water. Exposure to cold and wet weather can cause life-threatening conditions like hypothermia, frostbite, trench foot, and chilblains (itching, red patches, swelling, and blistering on your hands and feet).
Although we cannot stop the winter chill, we can practice safety to better protect ourselves. The proper precautions can help prevent and minimize the risk of cold stress among you and your workers.
That’s why UMASH has created a Cold Stress toolkit with resources to recognize signs and symptoms of cold stress so you can stay safe while working through the winter.
FEATURED RESOURCES
COLD STRESS TOOLKIT
- Cold Stress
NIOSH - What is Cold Stress?
University of Iowa Environmental Health and Safety - Cold Stress Resources
CDC - Preventing Cold-related Illness, Injury & Death among Workers
CDC
- NIOSH Fast Facts: Protecting Yourself from Cold Stress
NIOSH - Hypothermia, Frostbite, and Trench Foot for Trainers and Supervisors
OSU Ag Safety - Prevent Hypothermia and Frostbite
CDC - Hypothermia and Cold Weather Injuries, Outdoor Action Guide
National Ag Safety Database - Water Safety Demo: Hypothermia
Us Ag Centers
- Working in Cold Weather
OSU Ag Safety - Winter Weather: Plan.Equip.Train
OSHA - Agricultural Tailgate Safety Training: Cold Weather Exposure
National Ag Safety Database and OSU Extension - NIOSH Working in Cold Podcast
NIOSH - Staying Healthy in the Elements
Kansas AgriAbility - Winter Safety Tips for People with Disabilities
Easterseals - Heating Fire Safety for the Winter
U.S Fire Administration
- Preventing Slips and Falls During Icy Conditions
OSU Ag Safety - Ice Safety Tips for Outdoor Activities
OSU Ag Safety - Preventing Falls on the Ice: Tips for Farmers
GPCAH - How to Stay Safe on Frozen Lakes, Ponds
Farm and Dairy Family
- Personal Protective Equipment and Working in the Cold
NIOSH - The Physiological Response of Working in Cold Environments and how your PPE can Help
NIOSH Science Blog - How to Find Winter Coats
Need Help Paying Bills
- Farm Safety Check: Farm First Aid
UMASH - SPOTLIGHT: First on your Farm: Be Ready with First Aid
UMASH - Preparing for a Winter Storm
CDC - Stay Safe During & After a Winter Storm
CDC - Winter Safety
National Weather Service - National Weather Service Winter Weather Forecast
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - How to Protect Yourself from Winter Weather – Multilingual Resources
Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Avoid, Spot, Treat Frostbite and Hypothermia Infographic and Poster
CDC - RECOMENDACIONES PARA IR A LA MONTAÑA, LA HIPOTERMIA
Camping el cares - Pocket-sized cards for employees: Protecting Workers from Cold Stress (English)
- Pocket-sized cards for employees: Protecting Workers from Cold Stress (Spanish)
OSHA - Chart for the workplace: When and how long to take breaks over a 4-hour shift given the temperature and wind speed
OSHA - Winter Weather Safety Graphics
Federal Emergency Management Agency - Winter Weather Safety Social Media Toolkit
- Managing Dairy Cattle in Cold Weather
UMN Extension - Colder Weather Tips for Midwestern Dairy Farm Employees
SDSU Extension - Cold Stress and Beef Cattle
Penn State Extension - Working in Cold Weather: 4 Safety Tips for Farmers and Ranchers
Farm Bureau - Winter and Cold Weather Safety Tips on the Farm
American Family Insurance