Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/608970
who have had a recent injury or blood loss also are at a higher risk of frostbite. Employees who do not take precautionary measures, like wearing the appropriate protective clothing, are also at high risk. Recommendations for Employers Although OSHA does not have a specific standard that covers working in cold environments, employers have a re- sponsibility to provide workers with a place of employment free from recognized hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Employers should therefore train workers on the hazards of the job and safety measures to use that will protect workers' safety and health. Training all employees about the dangers of cold tempera- tures is essential. This needs to include preventing and recog- nizing cold stress illnesses and injuries and how to apply first aid treatment. Workers should be trained on using personal protective equipment and developing work practices to reduce the risk of cold stress. Employers should provide radiant heaters to warm workers in outdoor areas. If possible, work areas should be shielded from drafts or wind to reduce wind chill. It is easy to become dehydrated in cold weather. Employers can provide plenty of warm liquids to workers and stress their employees avoid alcoholic drinks. If possible, employers can schedule heavy work during the warmest part of the day. Assign workers to tasks in pairs (buddy system), so they can monitor each other for signs of cold stress. Workers should be allowed to interrupt their work if they are extremely uncomfortable. Employers should give workers frequent breaks in warm areas. Help new workers and those returning after time away from work adjust to cold conditions by gradually increasing their workload and allowing more fre- quent breaks in warm areas. They will thus build a tolerance for working in the cold environment. Recommendations for Workers Workers should avoid exposure to extremely cold tempera- tures when possible. When that cannot be avoided, workers should follow these recommendations to protect themselves from cold stress: • Wear appropriate clothing. – Wear several layers of loose clothing. Layering provides better insulation. DACUM Codes To help meet your professional needs, this article covers skills and competencies found in DACUM charts for drillers and pump installers. DO refers to the drilling chart and PI refers to the pumps chart. The letter and number immediately following is the skill on the chart covered by the article. This article covers: DOD-4, DOD-8, DOK-2, DOK-9, PIB-2, PIG-3 More information on DACUM and the charts are available at www.NGWA.org. WWJ December 2015 35 Twitter @WaterWellJournl Reduce cos Increase ef Improve p st. fficiency. roductivity. m G 800 551.7379 800 551.7379 A NGW NGWA . www www 9 • 614 898.7791 9 614 898 7791 e e or or okst okst o g/B g/B .or A SAFETY continues on page 36