New ISO standard for cold environments

The International Organization for Standardization, (ISO) Geneva, Switzerland, released ISO 15743:2008, a "comprehensive methodology for assessing risk and managing work in cold environments" including food processing and cold storage facilities. The new standard is titled, "Ergonomics of the thermal environment: Cold workplaces - Risk assessment and management." ISO officials the new standard provides practical instructions with: (a) a model and methods for risk assessment practices in cold work; (b) a model and method for occupational health care professionals to identify individuals having symptoms which increase their cold air sensitivity, plus optimal guidance and instructions for individual cold protection; (c) informative guidelines on how to apply different international thermal standards and other validated scientific methods when assessing cold related risks; (d) a model and methods for cold risk management practices; and (e) practical examples of working in cold conditions.