Essential Cold Weather Safety for Workers

Posted on 12/31 by Erin Helms

Cold weather is around the corner, if you haven’t had the first blast of it yet. And while it happens every year, just like remembering how to safely drive in snow and icy conditions, it’s a good idea to (snow) brush up on some winter safety tips to keep safe when the temperature dips below freezing—or what feels like freezing to you.

1. Be Prepared

Before the first real cold weather hits, make sure your facility is prepared for the elements. This includes buying shovels and rock salt or other ice-melting products for those locations in which sidewalks and other surfaces might become slipping hazards. It also means making sure your vehicles have snow brushes, emergency kits including flares and jumper cables, and that windshield washer reservoirs are filled with fluids that can handle salty residue without freezing on your windshield. This is also the time of year to remind everyone that any vehicles used out in the elements for the company need to have at least half a tank of gas at all times in order to prevent freezing. Make sure all external hose faucets are closed to prevent pipes from filling with water, freezing, and bursting. It’s also critically important to have a system in place to make sure sidewalks are cleaned, slipping and pooling water hazards are clearly identified and that everyone knows where winter supplies are stored.

2. Have the right equipment

Whether you work inside a warehouse or out on the road, it’s vital to have the right equipment and gear to stay warm in bad weather. This includes moisture-wicking shirts that serve as a base layer if you work outside—pulling sweat away from your skin can help prevent frostbite and exposure by keeping you warmer—and thick socks to insulated gloves and warm hats. Gloves are important for indoor use as well if your workplace is drafty and the cold air can get in. Don’t forget hats! So much of our body heat escapes through our heads that they need to stay covered during the winter. Managers should post a list of cold-weather gear in a prominent place and check with employees to make sure everyone has what they need to stay warm and safe this season. Cold fingers might not seem like a big deal but losing a finger to frostbite is no laughing matter.

3. Don’t underestimate rest and hydration

We know the risk of heat exhaustion in the summer, but cold exposure and exhaustion are just as real concerns in the winter. It’s important to take breaks to bring your temperature up if you’re working outside. If you have a strenuous job that requires lots of time out in the elements, you might be sweating more than you realize because it feels colder. Dehydration in the winter is just as dangerous as dehydration in the summer! Take breaks to drink warm liquids and eat hot foods to keep your core temperature up. If you start to feel tingles in your fingers or toes, get inside right away and take a break. Tingling and chills are among the first signs of frostbite and you might not feel any pain until you start to warm up.

4. Watch for hazards

Most of the country will likely see temperatures below 32 degrees during the winter, which means everyone is at risk for slick sidewalks, parking lots, and other surfaces. If you see standing water inside your workplace, clean it up, put up one of those yellow hazard signs to indicate a slipping hazard and make sure any doors nearby are closed. This includes high-traffic areas where people are coming in from the outside. Those boot prints can track in snow, leading to a trail of water on a hallway floor. Indoor water can freeze too! Any place where snow or ice might accumulate needs to be monitored closely and cleaned often to minimize the risk of falling. Keep an eye out for icicles that might form on buildings when snow starts to melt too!

If you’re unsure of your company’s winter safety guidelines, now is the best time to ask. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has some great information on winter and cold weather safety, available in English and Spanish, on its website and some of those tip sheets should be posted in public areas where everyone can see and brush up on advice. Here at LaborMax, we work with companies who value their employees’ safety and are committed to keeping their work environment protected from what Mother Nature throws at us. We work across the United States and can help provide additional advice on what safety training to look for and how to keep safe this winter. We’re here and ready to help whenever you need!