Fixit: In cold weather, dress smart, work smart and watch

Q During really cold weather, when frostbite can occur in 15 minutes or less, how do construction workers working outdoors keep from getting frostbite? Does covering exposed areas with Vaseline work?

A Smearing the face with Vaseline, commonly done by skiers, hockey players and workers, is more about preventing moisture loss and chapping than frostbite.

To be outdoors in very frigid weather requires proper layering and insulating those areas susceptible to frostbite, according to Tom Votel, president and CEO of Ergodyne, a St Paul company that sells cold-weather performance wear. He described dressing for cold outdoor work as having three layers:

• A form-fitting base layer to keep the body dry by wicking moisture away from the skin.

• A middle layer consisting of at least one thermal layer designed to keep the body warm.

• An outer layer with a thermal layer that also protects against wind, rain and snow.

That's complemented by gloves for hands and fingers -- the body parts most susceptible to frostbite. They should keep hands warm, dry, able to securely grip icy surfaces; protect against workplace bumping and bruising, and let body moisture escape.

In addition to dressing smart, one needs to work smart to minimize cold-weather risk. That means staying hydrated and taking breaks in a warm environment.

Experts also recommend that construction crews watch one another for signs of cold stress that leads to loss of motor coordination and dangerous situations for the individual and others.

Allen Abrahamsen, assistant vice president of Construction Safety Services for ESIS Risk Control Services, says in the November issue of Occupational Hazards magazine that workers need to watch one another for the "umbles -- stumbling, mumbling, fumbling or grumbling."

If someone does any of these, they aren't working at the "top of their game," and are at risk of injury, he said.

Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488, or call 612-673-9033, or e-mail fixit@startribune.com. Past columns are available at www.startribune.com/fixit. Sorry, Fixit cannot supply individual replies.