Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

ResearchCoronavirusOH service deliverySickness absence managementOccupational Health

Cold working environments a Covid-19 risk factor, report finds

by Ashleigh Webber 2 Dec 2020
by Ashleigh Webber 2 Dec 2020 Shutterstock
Shutterstock

Occupational health teams should consider working at low temperatures as a risk factor for Covid-19 infection, as research has suggested that cold working environments are more conducive to transmission of the virus.

An article published in the Occupational Medicine journal has noted that outbreaks have been reported in meat, seafood and poultry processing facilities in numerous countries globally. This is thought to be because of environmental factors including low temperatures, low air exchange rates, air recirculation, metal surfaces and aerosolisation aggravated by high-volume water use.

Covid-19 risk factors

‘Covid age’ model helps determine virus risk, say researchers

Supermarket workers at heightened risk of Covid-19 infection

Why placing people in groups based on risk goes against inclusivity

Other, human, factors include insufficient distancing between workers, poor compliance with facemask use, presenteeism because of insecure poorly paid employment, voice projection against a background of loud machinery, hyperpnoea because of heavy manual labour, limited or non-existent hygiene measures and overcrowded domestic accommodation for migrant workers.

The article, written by researchers at the St John’s Institute of Dermatology at Guy’s Hospital in London, referenced research that identified Covid-19 diagnoses in 9.1% of 112,616 workers in meat and poultry processing facilities in 14 US states by the end of May 2020. By September 2020 the cumulative incidence of confirmed cases in the general population in those 14 states ranged between 0.4 and 3.0%, it added.

It also cited an investigation at Germany’s largest meat processing plant which indicated that an outbreak originated from a single employee who infected more than 60% of colleagues working within a distance of eight metres. The environmental factors that facilitated transmission of the virus at this distance included constantly recirculated cold air (10°C), humidity, airflow and low fresh air exchange rates.

The article said: “It is a long-held common belief that chilling of the body surface predisposes to upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs); however, studies provide inconsistent results. There is more consistent evidence for a relationship between inhaling cold air and increased incidence of URTIs… Low humidity can impact individual susceptibility to infection and the distance which viral particles might transverse the respiratory tract. Breathing cold air chills the nasal airway which compromises respiratory defence against infection by slowing muco-ciliary clearance and by inhibiting leukocyte phagocytosis [a process involving white blood cells fighting off infection].”

It added that employers and OH teams “should consider work in cold environments to be an independent occupational risk factor for developing Covid-19”.

The researchers recommend that employers with low-temperature working environments should conduct risk assessments and individual health risk appraisals to identify staff who have pre-existing health conditions and who may be predisposed to developing infections.

“In addition to standard control measures to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases in the workplace, that include education, early identification and quarantine, employers should implement additional interventions to protect against the cold. These include frequent warm-up breaks, access to hot drinks and meals, protective clothing and, as a minimum, face masks to protect against transmission and to allow warm air rebreathing,” the report has suggested.

It also noted that the risk of airborne transmission can be reduced by improving ventilation, but this can be challenging when there are operational requirements to maintain indoor temperatures significantly below external temperature.

Ashleigh Webber
Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is editor at OHW+ and HR and wellbeing editor at Personnel Today. Ashleigh's areas of interest include employee health and wellbeing, equality and inclusion and skills development. She has hosted many webinars for Personnel Today, on topics including employee retention, financial wellbeing and menopause support. Prior to joining Personnel Today in 2018, she covered the road transport sector for Commercial Motor and Motor Transport magazines, touching on some of the employment and wellbeing issues experienced by those in road haulage.

previous post
Ethical dilemma: Can employers insist on Covid-19 vaccinations?
next post
Back, neck and shoulder pain behind high proportion of digital physio sessions

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Lack of sick pay forcing two-thirds to work...

27 Jun 2022

Cost of living could lead to ‘pandemic sized’...

27 Jun 2022

Thousands unable to access local stop-smoking support

27 Jun 2022

Managers unsure how best to support cancer return...

24 Jun 2022

Employers urged to offer fast-track long Covid support

24 Jun 2022

Health interventions seen as unimportant by employees: research

23 Jun 2022

Finding answers to OH’s capacity conundrum

22 Jun 2022

NHS England launches growing occupational health and wellbeing...

21 Jun 2022

‘Landmark’ new guidance for pilots with HIV

20 Jun 2022

Has OH been overlooked (again) in fit note...

20 Jun 2022

  • NSPCC revamps its learning strategy with child wellbeing at its heart PROMOTED | The NSPCC’s mission is to prevent abuse and neglect...Read more
  • Diversity versus inclusion: Why the difference matters PROMOTED | It’s possible for an environment to be diverse, but not inclusive...Read more
  • Five steps for organisations across the globe to become more skills-driven PROMOTED | The shift in the world of work has been felt across the globe...Read more
  • The future of workforce development PROMOTED | Northumbria University and partners share insight...Read more
  • Strathclyde Business School expands its Degree Apprenticeship offer in England PROMOTED | The University of Strathclyde is expanding its programmes...Read more
  • The Search for Talent: Six Major Employer Pitfalls PROMOTED | The Great Resignation continues unabated...Read more
  • Navigating the widening “Skills Confidence Gap” in 2022, and beyond PROMOTED | Cornerstone OnDemand conducted a global study...Read more
  • Apprenticeships are the solution to your recruitment problems PROMOTED | Apprenticeships have the pulling power...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today