The New Jersey Institute of Technology's
Electronic Theses & Dissertations Project

Title:	Cold storage work and cold protective gloves – a review
Author:	Charles, Daena
View Online:	njit-etd2020-072 (ix, 45 pages ~ 2.1 MB pdf)
Department:	Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Degree:	Master of Science
Program:	Occupational Safety and Health Engineering
Document Type:	Thesis
Advisory Committee:	Sengupta, Arijit K. (Committee chair) Bladikas, Athanassios K. (Committee member) Lieber, Samuel (Committee member)
Date:	2020-12
Keywords:	Cold temperature work Cold weather gloves Environmental conditions Working conditions Productivity
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	The rise of e-commerce and the increasing demand for online grocery shopping and delivery has prompted the growth of warehouse workers subjected to cold temperature working conditions. To ensure food safety and the preservation of inventory, majority of these e-grocery warehouses are cold storage with temperatures from 10°C to -23°C. Exposure to such cold working environments can have effects on the workers comfort, performance and health. As the demand for workers in cold temperature environments increases, it is important to understand how this environment affects the workers and the challenges it may present. This review evaluates how working in cold temperature work affects the human body in both work ability and productivity. It presents the challenges with using cold weather gloves in cold working environments as it affects dexterity, hand grip and causes fatigue. Selection criteria of cold weather gloves and relevant US and international standards are discussed. Difficulties with using thick gloves in cold temperature on complex tasks are reviewed and alternative solutions suggested to improve employee comfort and productivity.