Hypothermia

Hypothermia is abnormally low body temperature. NIOSH says a body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. That makes it dangerous on a jobsite.

It is one of the main forms of cold stress. Crew leads should watch each other, much like a buddy system in the heat. A worker who cannot think clearly or move well in the cold needs help right away. Learn more in our cold stress at work guide. Also see frostbite.