NJ Winter Cold Snap Could Be Deadly For Outdoor Workers: OSHA

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey is expected to have its chilliest day in years on Tuesday. And for those who work outdoors, it can potentially spell disaster, federal safety officials say.

Tuesday is expected to be the coldest day in New Jersey in nearly three years, with single-digit wind chills sweeping most of the state, forecasters said.

Temperatures are expected to reach the high teens and 20s, but brisk northwest winds will make it feel about 10 to 15 degrees colder than the actual air temperature, according to the National Weather Service. Read More: NJ's Coldest Day In Years: Frigid Temps To Hit Garden State

With the coldest temperatures of the season to date gripping New Jersey, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is calling on area employers to protect workers – especially those working outdoors – from the dangers of cold stress.

“Cold temperatures and increased wind speed (wind chill) cause heat to leave the body more quickly, putting workers at risk of cold stress,” OSHA’s New Jersey office stated.

Anyone who works in the cold may be at risk, including workers in freezers, outdoor agriculture employees and construction workers, OSHA said.

Here are three dangerous things that can go wrong while on the job in frigid temperatures, the agency said. See more winter weather work tips here.

HYPOTHERMIA

• Normal body temperature (98.6°F) drops to 95°F or less.
• Mild Symptoms: alert but shivering.
• Moderate to Severe Symptoms: shivering stops; confusion; slurred speech; heart rate/breathing slow; loss of consciousness; death.

FROSTBITE

• Body tissues freeze, e.g., hands and feet. Can occur at temperatures above freezing, due to wind chill. May result in amputation.
• Symptoms: numbness, reddened skin develops gray/white patches, feels firm/hard, and may blister.

TRENCH FOOT

• Also known as Immersion Foot
• Non-freezing injury to the foot, caused by lengthy exposure to wet and cold environment. Can occur at air temperature as high as 60°F, if feet are constantly wet.
• Symptoms: redness, swelling, numbness, and blisters.

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