METHODOLOGY

An inspection is made of the work place and noise is taken into the checklist of problems that is observed. Each factor is observed and the risk is graded in three levels. No problem: conditions are acceptable and there is no need for preventative actions.
Slight problem: cold related problems are found that impairs the conditions at the workplace. Effects however are judged as slight to moderate and corrective actions and not immediately required.
The research was carried out in a large and modern freeze dry coffee factory in Colombia, located at an elevation of 1360m and with an average temperature of 26®c. The descriptive study was based on all twenty four (24) workers performing tasks inside three cold stores.
All the workers were male and the participation research was voluntary. The informed consent to participate in the study.
The participants completed a standardized questionnaire on paid work time. One of the researchers explained the questionnaire individually to each worker. The response required anonomosity and no company officer was present in the dissemination and completion of the questionnaire.
The specific symptoms inquired in the questionnaire were about pain, ache or discomfort in specified body parts during the preceding year and during the seven (7) days thereafter. The questionnaire also inquired whether the symptoms suffered prevented the individual from doing his normal routine of work. This included demographic items such as age and gender, ethnicity as well as questions on the number of years spent on the job and their medical history.
Health questionnaire about cold experience (See Appendix).
For the detection of cold-related health problems, the health check questionnaire for subjects exposed to cold and applied individually to each exposed worker. (See Appendix).
A wind speed testing and air temperature reading was taken every four hours.