Study on the Health Hazards of Cold Stress in the Workplace

Abstract

The workplaces with cold environment were screened from database to investigate (1) a profile, (2) manufacturing process, raw materials and products, (3) state of cold environment, (4) medical examination and (5) cold related symptoms by questionnaire and telephone interview. Extensive workplaces with cold environment were found in aquatic products industry, frozen food processing and meat processing factory, and most of them were located in southern Taiwan. It was found that 38.5% of cold environment exist both cold air exposure and cold touch among the workplace investigated. In addition, 34.6% workplace showed cold air exposure only, and 26.9% were referred to cold touch only. Most of the cold workplaces were found in cold storage warehouse with temperature lower than -18 ℃, and in frozen meat processing industry with temperature ranging between 10 ℃ and 18 °C. The major symptoms or diseases for the workers in the cold environment are coldness of hand or leg (21.1%), numbness of hand or leg (14.1%), respiratory diseases (12.9%) and feeling of tired (10.6%).