Extreme Cold Weather Health Risks and Assessments
Abstract
Extreme cold weather (ECW) poses unique challenges for health and safety among personnel working there. Occupational health risks are not well categorized, nor are methods used to assess them understood. All operations in the extreme cold will have unique protocols which can completely adjust a persons health risks. Data collected suggests the remote nature and extreme cold have negative effects on sampling abilities for environment, safety, and occupational health (ESOH) purposes. This paper compares thermal desorption tubes, Tedlar (registered trademark) bags, and passive sampler data from ECW data stored in the Defense Occupational Environmental Health Readiness System (DOEHRS). These data suggest that passive samplers and Direct Read Instruments (DRI) are promising sampling technology in ECW, with more studies needed in multiple areas. There are future studies that could be conducted such as issues with respirators, battery life which is essentially negligible in the cold, the "Crud," and the combustion profile and related health effects of AN8 jet fuel for which little information exists about the fuel in general. A key takeaway from interviews is the absolute remoteness of the assignment which effects morale and has significant supply chain issues that impact everything.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 15, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1220866
Entities
People
- Alysia J. Taylor
- Andrew J. Mcumber
- Benjamin C. Kimbrell
- Christopher J. Land
- Daniel T. Hicks
- Erica J. Schultz
- Jennifer E. Hancock
- Jerry L. Calalang
- Jessica L. Roofe
- Katherine M. Harris
- Kenneth Q. Aguilar
- Lawrence P. Mitchell
- Luca A. Melendez
- Tyler D. Knepper
- William J. Chavanu