This master’s thesis addresses the issues of occupational exposure in cold working environments and evaluates the effectiveness of risk management measures and their impact on workers. The thesis's main objectives are, firstly, to review the legal requirements, standards, and other regulations and, secondly, to evaluate the working conditions in a selected food industry company where employees work in cold environments such as refrigerated and deep-freeze storage rooms.
For this purpose, temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity measurements were carried out in different working areas of the company. Additionally, thermographic images were taken with a thermal imaging camera to provide a more detailed insight into the temperature distribution at the workstations. The adequacy of working conditions according to the prescribed requirements was assessed and recommendations for improving working conditions were proposed based on the analysis of the environmental conditions, personal protective equipment, and work organization.
Ensuring health and safety at work in cold environments requires comprehensive risk management that includes a combination of technical, organizational, and personal/individual protective measures. Systematic monitoring of microclimatic conditions and raising workers' awareness of the risks can contribute significantly to improving working conditions and reducing the harmful effects of exposure to cold working environments.
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