What steps can you take to help your employees working in cold conditions?

Working in the cold is dangerous for workers, who must be equipped and know what to do in order to remain comfortable and efficient. In this article learn about the hazards of working in the cold, as well as the equipment and solutions that are recommended for safe work in a cold environment.

4 simple solutions for working comfortably in cold conditions

Here are four suggestions that should help you minimise the challenges of working in cold weather, among the many safety and risk prevention measures you can put in place:

1. Wearing several thin layers of clothing while working in cold conditions;
2. Opting for natural materials or, failing that, for polyester and polypropylene;
3. Wearing gloves and a hat to protect extremities (and cover the skin);
4. Choosing equipment appropriate to the activity.

The occupational risks of working in cold conditions

Working in cold conditions, whether employees are exposed to cold either indirectly or directly, generates cold stress and affects all workers to a lesser or greater extent. Here are the factors to consider and consequences of working outside during winter or in cold working environments.

 What factors influence the health hazards of working in cold conditions?

According to the Australian organisation SafeWork, several factors influence the hazards associated with working in cold weather:

• Air temperature;
• Ground temperature;
• Wind speed;
• Humidity levels.

Other factors are related to the employee at risk:

• Their age;
• Their physical abilities;
• Their state of health.

Finally, there are certain factors that arise from working in the cold:

• The type of activity;
• The duration of the activity;
• The duration of exposure to the cold;
• The personal protective equipment required.

Which illnesses are caused by working in cold conditions?

A study by the Canadian Center for Occupational Health & Safety presented the illnesses caused by working in cold weather depending on the risk of exposure:

• Low exposure: Slight discomfort;
• Moderate to high exposure: Discomfort and risk of hypothermia and frostbite.

According to the same Canadian source, low exposure happens when the temperature doesn’t drop below -15 °C when working in cold conditions.

Solutions for working comfortably in cold conditions

When employees are continuously working in the cold, it is the employers’ responsibility to provide them with heated restrooms as well as catering services with hot food and hot drinks to stop any hazard from occurring.

Similarly, the pace of work should not be too intense to prevent employees from sweating and potentially getting chilly. Protective clothing is also an essential part of effectively working in cold workplaces.

To work safely in the cold, it is advised to follow the ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) health and safety recommendations outlined below.

Monitoring suited to cold weather

Monitoring the temperatures is essential for planning ahead and deploying the right measures to safeguard the health and safety of employees whose job involves working in cold conditions.

In fact, when the workplace temperature goes below 16°C, the premises need to be equipped with a thermometer to monitor any changes in temperature. Below 0°C, the temperature should be taken and the wind speed monitored every four hours.

Emergency procedures

Training in emergency procedures and first aid techniques is essential to ensure people stay safe. Working in cold conditions must not be taken lightly.

Long-term training

Both workers and supervisors (for whom it is a duty of care) should be fully aware of the risks of exposure to the cold as this is crucial to preventing occupational disorders and illnesses.

Protective equipment for working comfortably in cold conditions

When it comes to safe work practices in low-temperatures environments, it is not enough to know the right actions. Specific equipment and specialist tools enable employees to reduce the risks of long and direct exposure to the cold.

How to dress to work in cold conditions

The choice of equipment makes all the difference for employees in a cold working environment.

Below temperatures of 5°C, several factors should be considered when choosing personal protective clothing for working in cold conditions:

• The air temperature;
• The worker’s state of health.
• The duration of exposure to the cold;

There are several good practices employees should adopt when wearing cold weather clothing for work:

• Increasing insulation by layering clothing;
• Each protective layer should be easily removable to regulate body temperature based on the weather and the amount of physical exertion;
• If there is any rain or high humidity, clothing must be waterproof;
• Wearing a hat suited to outdoor conditions and the activity in question for personal protection;
• Wearing clean, dry clothing for better performance and insulation;
• Work permitting, protective gloves should be worn below 4°C.

Footwear and socks for working in cold conditions

Leather, felt, and rubber are the most effective materials for protecting the feet and keeping people warm. In fact, leather enables the skin to breathe and prevents excessive sweating during work and physical activity.

Employees can change their socks during the day to keep their feet dry when working in cold conditions. If two pairs of socks are worn, the outer sock should be larger so that the under-sock can keep the foot ventilated.

Face and eye protection

Face protection is recommended for worker health and safety. Take care to separate eye protection from the protective equipment for other areas (nose and mouth) to keep air circulating properly and prevent the risks of fogging and humidity during work.

Solutions for creating good working conditions in the cold

There are lots of easy ways to create comfortable and effective working conditions in the cold.

Prevent sweating during work

As soon as workers start to sweat, they can remove their clothes and equipment in successive layers if they feel the need to do so, starting with any accessories (gloves, hat, scarf, etc.).

Materials to avoid in cold temperatures and the importance of keeping moving

Workers must avoid contact with dangerous metals when the temperature drops below -7°C and liquids (alcohol, diesel fuel, etc.) when it drops below 4°C.

Standing or sitting for long periods of time should be avoided: Employees should keep moving as much as possible.

Hot food and a balanced diet

The body must work to keep warm, which requires a lot of energy. Balanced meals are therefore required to keep up an adequate body heat and avoid dehydration.

Drinking is essential for employees to stay healthy (hot drinks and soup), even in cold weather. Coffee, on the other hand, is not actually advised for keeping the body warm, as caffeine increases blood flow to the surface of the skin, which can lead to body heat loss.

Now that you know all the solutions for working in cold conditions both comfortably and efficiently, without health or safety risks, discover our “Winter Clothing” category. (https://www.manutan.co.uk/en/key/winter-clothing)