Many people with disability such as spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, cancer, skin conditions or diabetes can be sensitive to temperature variations. Learning to manage sensitivity to cold at work can ensure individuals are able to focus fully on their job or task and participate fully in their role within the workplace.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
If a person is experiencing sensitivity to cold within the workplace, when sourcing a solution it is important to first identify the sources of cold. Sources of cold within the workplace generally come from a combination of air temperature, humidity, air movement and radiant temperature coming from machines or surface reflection.
There are a number of strategies that can be utilised within the workplace to assist in controlling or modifying the temperature of the work environment or protect the body against cold.
Strategies for indoor workers may include:
- use of a blanket for extra warmth if sitting in an office environment
- allow time for physical activity within the workplace, i.e. rather than being seated at a desk all day, build in tasks that require walking around the office
- wear a hat, appropriate to the workplace, as up to 50% of body heat is lost through the head
- consider use of flexible working hours or schedules during colder months, i.e. working from home, and attending the office or workplace only during warmer hours of the day, rotating tasks in cooler workspaces to those in warmer workspaces
- eliminate draughts
- consider ventilation, insulation and roofing materials of workspace and whether they can be improved
Strategies for outdoor/factory workers may include:
- allow workers to change out of damp or wet clothes to dry clothes
- wear gloves or cover handles of metal implements with insulating material. For example:
- provide heated shelter or vehicles in outside work environments for ‘warming up’
- consider whether the ventilation, insulation and roofing materials in the workspace can be improved
- rotation of tasks from cold to warm workspaces
- provision of appropriate warm workwear and personal protective equipment or advice as to what is most appropriate to the work environment
A range of products are also available that can assist in modifying the temperature at work. These may include the use of:
Installation of separate temperature controls also allows greater flexibility as certain areas of the workplace can have different temperatures, making it possible for many people to work in the same environment and have their needs met with regard to temperature.
Environmental control units provide an easy, independent means of operating the various appliances located in the office or workplace, such as heaters and individual electrical heating pads which can be provided to assist people who have sensitivity to cold environments.
There are a range of clothing-related products that are specifically designed to protect the body in cold environments. By dressing in layers of light, loose fitting clothing, such as thermal fabrics, heat is trapped between the layers and provides warmth, with layers easily removed if the wearer becomes too warm.
References
Batiste, L. C 2008, Accommodation and Compliance Series: Employees with Multiple Sclerosis, Job Accommodation Network, West Virginia, viewed 7 May 2010, http://askjan.org/media/MS.html.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety 2008, OSH Answers: Cold Environments – Working in the Cold, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, Ontario, viewed 7 May 2010, http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/phys_agents/cold_working.html.
WorkCover NSW 2001, Code of Practice: Work in Hot or Cold Environments, WorkCover New South Wales, Sydney, viewed 7 May 2010, http://workcover.nsw.gov.au/formspublications/publications/Documents/cop_2001_work_hot_cold environments_0309.pdf.