Travail au froid

Abstract

Many injuries can occur during work in a cold environment. In most cases, serious injuries due to cold air may be prevented by elementary prevention. However, for many workers a risk of getting cold injuries is related to their routine activities. Both outdoor work in harsh climate and indoor work in cold environment can constitute a risk for cold injury. Cold injuries may be either systemic or localized. The two main major local injuries consist in two clinically different entities: freezing cold injuries and non-freezing cold injuries. Other minor disorders can also be observed: local pain, cold urticaria, acrocyanosis, effect on finger dexterity…The main systemic injury is the accidental hypothermia which leads to lethargy, coma, and sometimes to death. Some other disorders can also be observed: thermal discomfort, pain, and respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic, muscular, psychological disorders… A good knowledge of the cold injury and its surroundings, an adequate preparation (physical fitness, feeding, development of adaptation mechanisms), appropriate clothing and a suitable distribution of tasks can prevent cold injury.