Safety Newsletter
As we move into the colder months, it’s important to recognize the risks associated with cold stress and take the necessary precautions to protect ourselves. In this month’s safety newsletter, we’re highlighting our Cold Stress Procedure, which is designed to provide all Champion employees, including those from our subsidiaries and subcontractors, with the knowledge and tools to prevent cold stress-related illnesses and injuries. This procedure applies to anyone working in environments where they may be exposed to extreme cold, helping to ensure a safe and healthy work experience throughout the winter season.
Program responsibilities for all policies and/or procedures have now been addressed globally and included with the “Safety, Health & Environmental Statement of Policy and Responsibilities” (Section 1). In general, the responsibilities are broken into four functional areas, 1) Line Management, 2) Site Supervision, 3) Employee, and 4) S.H.&E. Department.
Cold Stress: Cold stress and its effects can vary across different areas of the country. In regions relatively unaccustomed to winter weather, near-freezing temperatures are considered factors for “cold stress.” Whenever temperatures drop decidedly below normal and as wind speed increases, heat can more rapidly leave your body. These weather-related conditions may lead to serious health problems.
Frostbite: An injury to the body that is caused by freezing. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and color in the affected areas. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage body tissues and severe cases can lead to amputation. In frigid temperatures, the risk of frostbite is increased in workers with reduced blood circulation and among workers who are not dressed properly.
Hypothermia: When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Prolonged exposure to cold will eventually use up your body’s stored energy. The result is hypothermia or abnormally low body temperature. A body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victims unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia particularly dangerous because a person may not know it is happening and will not know to take action.
Trench foot: Or immersion foot is caused by having feet immersed in cold water at temperatures above freezing for long periods. It is similar to frostbite but is considered less severe. Trench foot can occur at temperatures as high as 60 degrees F if the feet are constantly wet. Injury occurs because wet feet lose heat 25 times faster than dry feet. Therefore, to prevent heat loss, the body constricts blood vessels to shut down circulation in the feet. Skin tissue begins to die because of lack of oxygen and nutrients and due to the buildup of toxic products.
To ensure the safety and preparedness of everyone on our crews this winter all employees exposed to cold environments shall be instructed in the safety and health procedures contained in this policy. Training should include the following steps:
Cold weather conditions can be hazardous to the health and safety of employees, endanger the body’s stability, and cause problems such as hypothermia and frostbite. Here are some guidelines to consider when working in colder weather conditions.
The following factors may contribute to a cold injury:
The following conditions worsen the effects of cold exposure:
Additional cold weather hazards include unstable snow build-up, sharp icicles, ice dams and walkways/travel ways that are not cleared, salted, or sanded
Champion is pleased to announce that the Port Everglades Cranes Project, led by Manny Salgado and his dedicated team of 16 employees, has been recognized as our Crew of the Month! This incredible team has completed over 14,000 incident-free hours of hard work, demonstrating exceptional skill and dedication every step of the way.
The project, which involved the use of power tools, sandblasting, and painting of 9 cranes, has been a challenging yet rewarding undertaking. The team worked meticulously, applying PPG Amerlock 600 primer and a finish coat of PPG Pitthane Ultra Gloss, ensuring a durable and high-quality finish on each crane. Despite the complexities of the tasks, the team executed every responsibility with precision, never compromising on safety or quality.
The Champion Executive Team extends our deepest gratitude to Manny Salgado and his team for their unwavering commitment to excellence. Your teamwork, expertise, and dedication to safety have been nothing short of exceptional. The level of effort you’ve put into this project is truly setting a standard. We are excited to see what we will continue to achieve together as we set our sights on even greater milestones in the future.
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