Thought Bytes...
June 2004

RSI Risk Factors #7: Cold

How ironic that I write about the effects of cold on the first warm summer day in Edmonton… and trust me, living in Edmonton, we know about cold. That makes us appreciate the warmth of summer all the more.

Working in cold environments obviously has a unique set of challenges. Most people think about outdoor work and the risks of hypothermia and frostbite. But I want to write about the irritatingly cool environment – the one that just gives you goose-bumps and shivers. To read about working in winter environments, please check the article in the December 2001 issue of Working Well.

Complaints about indoor temperature are possibly the number one environmental issue in offices. It could be the cold draft from a window or air vent, an enthusiastic air conditioning system or even variations between outer and inner offices. The perception of being cold has both physical and psychological consequences.

While the physical effects are not as pronounced (nor as life threatening) as hypothermia, there are some similarities between what happens to the body when it gets chilled. First, you get goose-bumps (also called goose flesh or goose pimples). This is an automatic (sympathetic) response in which tiny muscles are activated to make the hairs on your arms stand on end in response to cold or fear. I suppose back in the evolutionary chain, it is like a dog’s hackles going up to make him look bigger to his opponent.

The next stage (and hopefully as far as it goes in the office) is to start to shiver. This is another automatic response in which your muscles rapidly contract and relax in an effort to produce heat. If the jaw muscles are shivering, your teeth will chatter.

While this is happening, signals are going to your brain to tell you that you are cold. The brain recognizes the need to protect the vital organs in a cold environment – you can live without a finger or toe, but really need the internal organs to survive. So, blood is pulled in from the extremities and pools in the trunk.

If you are trying to type or write while your body is drawing blood to the body’s core, your fingers likely won’t do what you want them to. You will feel clumsy and make far more errors. Without a continuous supply of highly oxygenated blood, your muscles can’t process the signal from the brain to do the motions.

At the same time, the instinctive need to protect the body from the threat (part of the fight of flight response) is to pull your shoulders up toward your ears. This results in static muscle contractions that contribute to a build up of lactic acid in the muscles. Soon your neck and shoulders start to ache.

In the end, we must rely on the advice our mothers’ gave us… put on a sweater. Wrap a shawl around your shoulders. Wear a hat or scarf. It may not make a fashion statement, but you will get the work done faster and more efficiently, and will not be as tired at the end of the day.

Feedback

A great alternative to space heaters (which blow fuses, are a safety / fire hazard and draw far too much power) is a low-wattage radiant heat panel.

We offer the Cozy Legs radiant heat panel which maxes out at 60 degrees Celsius and easily warms even the coldest of workstations - and as far as I am aware there is no significant EM field as the wattage is low. Here is the information on it...

Warm the space - anywhere you sit with Cozy Legs radiant Heating Panel. Mount it to your desk with the supplied adhesive mounting pads or buy the optional stand for full, safe portability. An included HI - LO - OFF switch provides easy access to different levels of heat.

Weight: 8 lbs
Size: 22.5" x 16" x 1"
Power: 100 watts, 0.9 amps
Max Temp: Approx 60 Celsius

The units cost $125 CDN plus $20 for the optional stand, and have been a huge hit for 'dead spaces' in offices (where airflow is poor and cold spots form) as well as desks against outside walls.

Just thought I'd mention that product if you weren't familiar with it :)

Regards,

Michael Craggs
http://www.ergocanada.com

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