Working outside in the winter: tips for handling the cold

Working outside in the winter comes with a number of unique risks. With temperatures dropping and snow and ice coating the ground, workers need to be extra careful. With additional risks, it’s vital to take appropriate precautions, as both a worker and a manager, to ensure you and your employees remain safe throughout the season.

Below we outline some key steps to take to help ensure nothing goes wrong while working outside in the winter.

Clothing for outdoor winter work

Without the proper clothing, workers open themselves up to risks like frostbite, hypothermia, and freezing of exposed extremities like fingers, toes, and ear lobes. In fact, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety advises that those working in temperatures at or below four degrees Celsius wear protective clothing. But what does protective clothing entail?

• Layers should be worn so one can adjust the amount of clothing they’re wearing based on the temperature. Layers are also helpful in cold temperatures, as the air between layers provides better insulation than the clothing itself.
• Wear a wind-resistant outer layer. If it’s raining or snowy outside, a waterproof outer layer should be worn.
• Moisture-wicking fabric will keep sweat from freezing and keep you dry. If clothing next to your body becomes wet, its insulation value will drop dramatically.
• Shoes that are waterproof or treated with waterproof materials should also be worn. Footwear should have good traction to help reduce the likelihood of a slip and fall injury.
• A knit cap or liner should be worn under hard hats.
• A scarf and mittens (or insulated gloves) should be worn if necessary.
• If protective eye wear is needed for your line of work, ensure it provides protection against ultraviolet light from the sun, glare from any snow, blowing snow/ice crystals, and high winds at cold temperatures.

Precautions to take when working in the cold

When working outside in the winter, there are a number of things to consider before you step out the door.

• The weather: Be sure to monitor weather warnings and keep an eye on notices from Environment Canada for wind chill warnings and cold alert notices.
• The location of your job: Take where you’ll be working into consideration. For instance, if you’re going to be working on a roof and there’s freezing rain overnight, you’ll want to take extra precautions or reschedule the work, if possible.
• Tools: Workers shouldn’t have to remove their gloves while working outside, if possible. Ensure that any machines or tools you or employees are using are designed so that they can be operated while wearing gloves. Some tools may also not work at their best in extreme cold, so plan accordingly if work needs to be done inside a garage or workroom.
• Breaks: Set up warm break areas so there’s somewhere for employees to go and warm up if needed, while maintaining a safe distance to prevent the spread of disease. If you’re working outside, try to plan for breaks to give yourself time to rest, warm up, hydrate, and eat.
• A buddy system: Asses the work being done and consider having a buddy system, if circumstances warrant it. For example, if you’re working at heights or in a confined space, you may want another person on site in case of an emergency.
• Education: Implement a worker training program to educate employees on the hazards of working in cold temperatures, the health effects, and prevention techniques against cold-related illnesses.
• Prepare for power outages: Make sure you have emergency power, such as backup generators, available, as well as a supply of flashlights and batteries to ensure employees can continue to move safely through the work space. Use heating sources only in well-ventilated areas to avoid buildup of lethal carbon monoxide gas. Keep a fire extinguisher close by, and install a smoke detector and battery-operated carbon monoxide detector near the area you plan on heating.

To learn more about how to keep yourself and your business safe and handling things like the prevention of slips, trips, and falls, or working at heights, visit our blog today.