Cold Textiles

5. Textiles and clothing for protection from cold
Clothing plays the role of a passive insulation layer between the body and the environment. Both the textile layers and the layers of air between them in the clothing system perform this role. The adjustment of the passive insulation to the changing thermal conditions of the environment may be done through adding or removing textile layers. However, sometimes this is not possible to be done or the textile layers, necessary to guarantee the body thermal comfort, are so thick that the movements are will be limited.
The textiles in the form of layers in clothing garments, headwear, handswear or footwear are of crucial importance for the survival and proper work of people in cold environment, as they are the only barrier between the human body and the cold. The ability of the textile layers to transfer the moisture from the body

Management of the occupational activities in the cold
The International Standard ISO 15743 [21] deals with the risk assessment and management in a cold environment. It gives both theory and practical tools (checklists, guidelines, examples) to manage the occupational activities in the cold, minimizing the risk of appearance of cold related injuries. The International Standard ISO 12894 [22] gives details and recommendations on the medical supervision of people, exposed to extreme cold.
The management of the occupational activities in a cold environment helps people to perform their work. Preliminary and regular screening, made by professionals in occupational health helps to avoid the risk of cold related injuries due to health limitations of the workers or accumulation of cold strain. Information and training of the workers for activities in a cold environment are inseparable parts of their occupational training. All employees of the company/organization, carrying out activities in the cold should be trained to identify, access and manage the risks at work, related to the cold exposure