Reduced finger mobility

In the project “ColdWear”, scientists at SINTEF have carried out climate laboratory tests on subjects exposed to temperatures ranging from 25 degrees below to 22 degrees above zero. Many of our vital functions begin to break down when our core temperature falls by more than a few degrees. Even at just five degrees below zero, finger and hand mobility are reduced, and our performance suffers.

The project aims to improve our knowledge of how much cold people can tolerate, and what happens to their performance. The findings will also form the basis for developing advanced clothing for people who work in harsh climates. Outside Hammerfest in northern Norway, SINTEF has been gathering information about the weather conditions experienced by petroleum industry workers and on the sort of tasks they perform.