September 2024
September 2024
I’ve worked on many jobsites that didn’t consider exposure to cold temperatures a hazard until the temperature dropped below freezing. I once worked on a jobsite in northern Iowa where there was often a wind chill of -30 °F during the colder months. It was so cold that you could toss a cup of hot water into the air, and it would freeze!
Whether your jobsite is in a cold part of the country or not, it’s important to evaluate the potential for cold stress at your workplace. Even in warmer states like Arizona and California, cooler temperatures can occur during early morning and night shifts. Also, workers could be exposed to cold stress in the underground construction of tunnels, shafts, chambers, and passageways. Conduct a workplace assessment to identify your workers’ cold exposure.
Dressing properly is extremely important to preventing cold stress. The following are recommendations for employees working in cold environments:
They should wear at least three layers of loose-fitting clothing. Layering provides better insulation. Other examples of personal protective equipment that workers could wear to prevent cold stress include:
1. An inner layer of wool, silk, or synthetic to keep moisture away from the body.
2. A middle layer of wool or synthetic to provide insulation even when wet.
3. An outer warm jacket.
4. A hat or headband to help keep your whole body warm. Hats reduce the amount of body heat that escapes from your head.
5. A knit balaclava to cover the face and mouth (if needed).
6. Insulated gloves.
7. Insulated and waterproof boots (or other footwear). Ice cleats also ensure workers have proper traction over slippery surfaces such as ice or snow.
The type of fabric worn also makes a difference. Cotton loses its insulation value when it becomes wet. Wool, silk, and most synthetics, on the other hand, retain their insulation even when wet.
In addition to making sure your workers are dressed properly, you should:
• Train workers on how to prevent and recognize cold stress.
• Provide engineering controls. If possible, shield work areas from drafts or wind to reduce wind chill.
• Use safe work practices. Monitor weather conditions for cold weather conditions and plan work accordingly.
• Give workers frequent breaks in warm areas. Acclimatize new workers and those returning after time away from work by gradually increasing their workload.
Also, remember that it’s easy to dehydrate in cold weather, too. Make sure your workers are drinking enough water!
Protect your workers from cold stress with our wide selection of winter apparel from hats to jackets and vests to ice traction cleats.