Health-check questionnaire for subjects exposed to cold
Hassi, J.; Raatikka, V-Pekka.; Huurre, M.
International Journal of Circumpolar Health 62(4): 436-443
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 1239-9736 PMID: 14964769 Document Number: 561315
Human exposure to cold outdoor and indoor temperatures below 10 degrees C may be associated with various cold-related sensations and symptoms. It is not possible to predict a person's survival ability only by assessing thermal environments; but individual screening is always required for good health care practice with regards to treatment and/or prevention. As part of a development project, a health-check questionnaire was developed for the workers exposed to cold. The completion of the development was carried out in the framework of a Nordic collaboration. This was three-level medical screening protocol for detecting individual cold-related health ailments. "The health-check questionnaire for subjects exposed to cold" comprises the first step of the screening protocol. The medical screening was harmonized with the assessment practices for cold-related health risks in the workplaces. A "health-check questionnaire for subjects exposed to cold" was developed as the first step of the three-level medical screening for the detection of cold-related health ailments of individuals. The analogical assessment practices for the cold-related health risks in the workplaces were developed in the same project. They both aim towards the establishment of an ISO standard for working in cold environments.