“Work in the cold is not only a problem of northern latitudes”

13th of November 2018

Course leader presentation: Anje Höper

Workers in the Cold, 19th – 21st of March 2019, Clarion Hotel The Edge, Tromsø, Norway

Anje Höper is a medical doctor and researcher in the field of occupational health. During work and life in Tromsø for the past 12 years, she has become more and more interested in issues related to the high north. Being an employee of UiT The Arctic university of Norway, she feels a special responsibility for drawing attention to the north and northern conditions.

Why do you think that Workers in the Cold is an important and current issue to discuss in 2019?

Cold temperatures not only directly affect physiological functions, physical and mental working capacity. They also have indirect, modulating effects, for instance on industrial hygiene parameters like contamination by airborne substances, chemicals and biological substances. In addition, thermal protection in the form of winter clothing can negatively impact compatibility with other personal protective equipment. We still lack knowledge on, and not at least solutions for, a lot of these aspects, and it is therefore important to discuss the topic of workers in the cold.

Outdoor workplaces in the north will increase in the future, due to the growth in different branches such as e.g. fishing industry, shipping or tourism. Those workers might be a minority, seen from a global perspective, but it’s nevertheless important to focus on them, as they comprise an important work force in the region. Work in the cold is not only a problem of northern latitudes. Also, further south there are cold workplaces, for example in the form of slaughterhouses, cold storages and others, thereby making it a topic of interest also in those regions.

What do you want to say to the participants of the course?

“Come and have fun” – the course program has a bit for everybody. Also, don’t forget to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Tromsø while networking and discussing with presenters and other course participants.

More information: Course web page
Registration: Course registration
Last registration date: 14th of January 2019