Cold Stress

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) requires employers to comply with hazard-specific safety and health standards. Pursuant to Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, employers must provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death  or serious physical harm, including cold stress.

What constitutes extreme cold and its effects can vary across different regions of the country. Cold stress occurs by driving down the skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature (core temperature). This may lead to serious health problems, and may cause tissue damage, and possibly death.

Resources & Forms
OSHA Cold Stress Guide
National Weather Service - Cold Weather Safety 

Training
Cold Stress in the Workplace - CSW-1.2
This online course addresses factors that contribute to cold stress, learning to recognize signs and symptoms of cold stress, and identifying controls that can help prevent cold stress. Assignments of this course are overseen by the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Coordinator. For further training information, contact the EHS Coordinator at 817-257-7220 or j.brown2@tcu.edu.