Health problems related to working in extreme cold conditions indoors
To identify health problems among workers performing cleaning, maintenance and machine operation tasks inside cold storage rooms with temperatures between -43 degrees C and -62 degrees C in a freeze drying coffee company. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. METHODS: All 24 workers working inside the co...
Published in: | International Journal of Circumpolar Health |
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Luleå tekniska universitet, Arbetsvetenskap
2008
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Online Access: | http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-4645 https://doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v67i2-3.18286 |
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ftluleatu:oai:DiVA.org:ltu-4645 2023-05-15T15:55:27+02:00 Health problems related to working in extreme cold conditions indoors Piedrahita, Hugo Oksa, Juha Malm, Christer Rintamäki, Hannu 2008 application/pdf http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-4645 https://doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v67i2-3.18286 eng eng Luleå tekniska universitet, Arbetsvetenskap Finnish institute of Occupational Health, Physical Work Capacity Team Winternet International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 1239-9736, 2008, 67:2/3, s. 279-287 http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-4645 doi:10.3402/ijch.v67i2-3.18286 PMID 18767348 ISI:000257776200013 Scopus 2-s2.0-46149098452 Local 29f71190-053b-11dd-b034-000ea68e967b info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Production Engineering Human Work Science and Ergonomics Produktionsteknik arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi Article in journal info:eu-repo/semantics/article text 2008 ftluleatu https://doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v67i2-3.18286 2022-10-25T20:58:03Z To identify health problems among workers performing cleaning, maintenance and machine operation tasks inside cold storage rooms with temperatures between -43 degrees C and -62 degrees C in a freeze drying coffee company. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. METHODS: All 24 workers working inside the cold stores participated in the study. A questionnaire about cold-related health problems and the standardized Nordic questionnaire assessing muscle complaints were completed by all exposed workers. A physical examination was performed on each worker. RESULTS: The most relevant cold-related health problem was episodic finger symptoms (50%), followed by respiratory symptoms (21%), peripheral circulation symptoms (20%), and repeated pain in the musculoskeletal system (12%). Two subjects had a previous diagnosis of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). The prevalence of musculoskeletal complains in the neck and low back was 21% in each. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence found for various complaints among the freeze drying coffee workers implies that the cold conditions inside cold stores may present a real risk of cold-related health problems and, due to lowered concentration level, for injuries, too. Greater efforts should be made to minimize the cold exposure by designing automation processes to prevent continuous exposure to cold during freeze drying process. In addition, improving the cold-protective clothing and guaranteeing its appropriate use will reduce health risks. Validerad; 2008; 20080408 (andbra) Article in Journal/Newspaper Circumpolar Health International Journal of Circumpolar Health Luleå University of Technology Publications (DiVA) International Journal of Circumpolar Health 67 2-3 279 287 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Luleå University of Technology Publications (DiVA) |
op_collection_id |
ftluleatu |
language |
English |
topic |
Production Engineering Human Work Science and Ergonomics Produktionsteknik arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi |
spellingShingle |
Production Engineering Human Work Science and Ergonomics Produktionsteknik arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi Piedrahita, Hugo Oksa, Juha Malm, Christer Rintamäki, Hannu Health problems related to working in extreme cold conditions indoors |
topic_facet |
Production Engineering Human Work Science and Ergonomics Produktionsteknik arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi |
description |
To identify health problems among workers performing cleaning, maintenance and machine operation tasks inside cold storage rooms with temperatures between -43 degrees C and -62 degrees C in a freeze drying coffee company. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. METHODS: All 24 workers working inside the cold stores participated in the study. A questionnaire about cold-related health problems and the standardized Nordic questionnaire assessing muscle complaints were completed by all exposed workers. A physical examination was performed on each worker. RESULTS: The most relevant cold-related health problem was episodic finger symptoms (50%), followed by respiratory symptoms (21%), peripheral circulation symptoms (20%), and repeated pain in the musculoskeletal system (12%). Two subjects had a previous diagnosis of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). The prevalence of musculoskeletal complains in the neck and low back was 21% in each. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence found for various complaints among the freeze drying coffee workers implies that the cold conditions inside cold stores may present a real risk of cold-related health problems and, due to lowered concentration level, for injuries, too. Greater efforts should be made to minimize the cold exposure by designing automation processes to prevent continuous exposure to cold during freeze drying process. In addition, improving the cold-protective clothing and guaranteeing its appropriate use will reduce health risks. Validerad; 2008; 20080408 (andbra) |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Piedrahita, Hugo Oksa, Juha Malm, Christer Rintamäki, Hannu |
author_facet |
Piedrahita, Hugo Oksa, Juha Malm, Christer Rintamäki, Hannu |
author_sort |
Piedrahita, Hugo |
title |
Health problems related to working in extreme cold conditions indoors |
title_short |
Health problems related to working in extreme cold conditions indoors |
title_full |
Health problems related to working in extreme cold conditions indoors |
title_fullStr |
Health problems related to working in extreme cold conditions indoors |
title_full_unstemmed |
Health problems related to working in extreme cold conditions indoors |
title_sort |
health problems related to working in extreme cold conditions indoors |
publisher |
Luleå tekniska universitet, Arbetsvetenskap |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-4645 https://doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v67i2-3.18286 |
genre |
Circumpolar Health International Journal of Circumpolar Health |
genre_facet |
Circumpolar Health International Journal of Circumpolar Health |
op_relation |
International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 1239-9736, 2008, 67:2/3, s. 279-287 http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-4645 doi:10.3402/ijch.v67i2-3.18286 PMID 18767348 ISI:000257776200013 Scopus 2-s2.0-46149098452 Local 29f71190-053b-11dd-b034-000ea68e967b |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v67i2-3.18286 |
container_title |
International Journal of Circumpolar Health |
container_volume |
67 |
container_issue |
2-3 |
container_start_page |
279 |
op_container_end_page |
287 |
_version_ |
1766390941455745024 |