Has anyone come across an alleged case of frostbite or frostnip whilst working in a freezer? We have a chap who is alleging that he has had frostbite or frost nip, he has had all the right ppe and says that he was wearing gloves etc took his warming breaks and his rest breaks. He says that he took his gloves off to work the computer but then put them back on.

Frostnip is early stage of frostbite. I'm no medic but do a lot of outdoor stuff and have done outdoor survival and first aid.

As far as I'm aware you wouldn't know if the person had had mild frostnip (in the past), although whitening might occur at the time that would fade once rewarmed. It leaves no permanent problem. Although the person can be more suseptible to frostbite in the future.

Frostbite can be in varying degrees from mild (frostnip) to severe. The severe one leads to blackened deadened tissue. But milder frosbite may leave no trace once healed. Frost bite usually occurs with prolonged exposure and the more prolonged the exposure the greater the risk and severity. But it can occur in short exposure at extreme temperatures or when in contact with very cold metals and fluids etc.

It's certainly possible to get frostnip if gloves have been taken off periodically, although perhaps unlikely if they had been taking breaks to warm the skin. Underlying medical conditions may make that person more susceptible to such things or being on some medications (or an alcoholic).

My query would be though that if they had frostbite or frostnip they would have known about it at the time. Although the process can be gradual (unless subjected to immersion in cold freezing water for example) the affected part tingle and hurt and would be white. When rewarming takes place it's excrutiating as well. I can say that from experience.

So if they had suffered even mild frost bite they would have known about it at the time. They would have felt the condition coming on and suffered some loss of function and visible whitening and therefore would have said something about it at the time.

Anything more serious than mild frostnip would have required medical attention and would leave some evidence of such.

Hope that helps.