Essential equipment for working in cold rooms

The human body needs to remain at a stable temperature of around 37ºC for its physical and mental functions to perform at full capacity. Jobs involving constant exposure to extreme weather conditions therefore require employees to have preventive measures and equipment to maintain this body temperature. Today, we focus on one such case: working in cold rooms. 

The National Institute for Safety and Health at Work, in its Technical Note on Cold Stress, highlights some of the consequences workers exposed to cold without the necessary protection and precautions may suffer. These include cardiovascular and respiratory problems, cold injuries, or a higher likelihood of workplace accidents. Taking measures can prevent them. Let’s take a look. 

Regulations for working in cold rooms 

Legislation aims to protect the wellbeing of those who have to work in cold rooms. All regulations focus on ensuring safety and the adoption of measures that prevent employee health problems. 

To certify the correct use, maintenance and safety of cold rooms, Royal Decree 552/2019 of 27 September establishes the obligation that every cold room must have a professional expressly responsible for it. The company must provide specific training on safety principles and rules of use for working in cold rooms, as well as occupational risk prevention training. 

Likewise, the law requires that, at the end of work shifts or the working day, a thorough inspection of the cold room be carried out in order to “check that nobody has been left locked inside”.

 At the same time, and to prevent prolonged exposure to low temperatures that may affect the professional, Royal Decree 1561/1995 of 21 September on special working hours, in Article 31, sets out the maximum continuous time that professionals working in cold rooms may remain in them. As we can see, it depends on the temperatures they face in their work:

• When working in cold rooms with temperatures below -16ºC, the maximum working day is six hours, with the obligation for the worker to take a 15-minute break outside the cold room for every 45 minutes worked. 
• Where the temperature is between -5ºC and -18ºC, the working day is likewise six hours, while mandatory breaks are 15 minutes for every hour worked. 

From 0 to -5ºC, the working day will be the usual one for any job, namely a maximum of 8 hours per day. Breaks of 10 minutes must be taken for every three hours worked.

Personal protective equipment for working in cold rooms 

Working in cold rooms requires professionals to have organisational measures that comply with regulations, as well as equipment specifically designed to protect the human body from low temperatures. Here are some of the personal equipment that cannot be missing when working in cold rooms. 

1. Protective gloves 

These are items specifically designed to prevent body heat loss through hand contact in low-temperature environments. Their purpose is to thermally insulate the extremities. Recommendations on glove characteristics are set out in the Technical Prevention Note “Protective clothing and gloves against cold”. 

They can be made from different materials, including latex, PVC, polyester and acrylic blends, or polyurethane foam. Their design must prevent the ambient temperature from affecting the space between the skin and the inside of the glove. In addition, they must be resistant to water and moisture penetration inherent in working in cold rooms. 

Another key point is the comfort they provide to the user, allowing them to handle cold items easily and safely while protecting them against accidents caused by an incorrect grip. 

2. Jackets and coats 

The upper body must also be fully protected to prevent temporary heat loss. Garments must have certain features that enable safe work in cold rooms. 

• Length that covers the entire torso and reaches the lower waist. 
• Several layers. The inner layer should preferably be padded and made of breathable fabric to prevent chilling if the worker sweats. The outer layer should be waterproof and protect against moisture. 
• Elasticated waist and cuffs. This provides an effective seal to prevent cold air from entering the body. 
• Protective collar. The garment must also protect the neck. This part of the body can be reinforced with a neck warmer or scarf. 
• Airtight fastening. Zips are usually the best solution. They can be complemented with a Velcro flap. 

3. Cold room coveralls

This is a garment that can replace or complement a jacket and trousers depending on the temperatures faced by the person working in cold rooms.  

It is a one-piece garment made up of several layers that offers protection from the head, with an integrated hood, to the entirety of the arms and legs. It has characteristics similar to jackets, but also covers the legs, with hems closed by a zip.

4. Thermally insulated trousers 

Thermal trousers stop cold from penetrating the lower body. They must fit the user’s body shape. They are usually made from highly resistant materials, such as polyamide, and include several layers. 

5. Specific footwear for working in cold environments 

As they are in contact with the ground, feet are among the parts of the body most sensitive to cold. Keeping this area of the body warm with footwear and boots for working in the cold is essential for comfort, safety and good professional performance. 

Footwear for working in cold rooms must be made with waterproof and insulating materials, so that they keep the foot dry even when the professional is in humid conditions. Likewise, having slip-resistant soles will benefit the operator’s safety and comfort.

Shoes for Crews models for working in cold environments bring together all these features in a catalogue offering a wide variety of top-quality footwear. Our patented slip-resistant sole is perfectly suited to demanding work environments, such as working in cold rooms. Contact us and we will provide you with all the information about our products.