OSHA 10-Hour Construction ReviewHealth Hazards in ConstructionHard
A construction worker is observed with skin that appears pale or waxy, and feels firm or hard to the touch, particularly on the nose and ears, after prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures. The worker reports numbness in these areas. What cold-related condition do these symptoms most strongly suggest?
- AChilblains
- BFrostnip
- CHypothermia
- DFrostbite
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Frostbite
Pale/waxy skin, firmness/hardness to the touch, and numbness in specific body parts after freezing exposure are classic signs of frostbite, indicating that tissue has begun to freeze. Frostnip is milder and does not involve tissue freezing or hardness.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Chilblains are characterized by itchy, red, swollen patches, typically from repeated non-freezing cold exposure.
- B. Frostnip involves numbness and stinging but skin remains soft and does not appear waxy or hard.
- C. Hypothermia involves a drop in core body temperature, not localized skin changes.
Frostbite Symptoms
Frostbite is a severe cold injury where body tissue freezes due to prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures, characterized by pale/waxy skin, firmness/hardness to the touch, and numbness in affected areas.
- Tissue freezing occurs.
- Skin appears pale, waxy, or grayish-yellow.
- Affected areas feel firm or hard and are numb.
Memory trick: Waxy, Hard, Numb: Frostbite's outcome!