Preparing for extreme cold is more than just buying winter clothes
The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to provide workers with a safe workplace, including protection from the bitter cold. As Old Man Winter settles in for the season, workers don their cold weather personal protective equipment (PPE), but is that enough to fully protect them?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified over the past few years an 8 to 12 percent higher death rate in winter months than in non-winter months. Even days that are only moderately cold can increase the risk of cold-weather death for workers. Cold affects workers in all states with cold days, which are made even colder and more hazardous by wind chill that combines air temperature plus wind speed. But remember, PPE is the last line of defense, even for cold-weather concerns.
Understanding and mitigating cold-weather hazards
Effectively managing cold exposures requires an understanding of the hazards frigid weather impose and implementing proper protections to combat those hazards. Cold-weather workers are not just construction workers, emergency services personnel, or tow truck drivers. Remember that protection applies to other workers exposed to cold, such as butchers, Zamboni operators, and airport baggage handlers, to name a few.
The following are major contributors to cold stress for workers:
- Exposure to outdoor temperatures, dampness, and wind;
- Working outdoors for extended duration;
- Physical exertion and overhead work in cold areas; and
- Compromised health or immune systems, such as older workers or those who may not be physically conditioned.
One of the best ways to understand cold-related hazards in the workplace is to investigate your OSHA 300 Logs. Previous incidents are key indicators of future events if cold-related exposures are not corrected. Employers should also interview workers to determine whether they are adequately protected from the cold while at work.
In addition to providing cold-weather PPE, employers can circumvent Old Man Winter by:
- Ensuring workers are carefully acclimated for cold-weather activities;
- Developing work plans that identify hazards and protective measures to be taken;
- Providing engineering controls such as warming stations, heaters, and wind shields;
- Scheduling cold-weather tasks during warmer months or warmer parts of the day;
- Limiting the duration of time spent outdoors during extreme cold;
- Establishing a communication and/or buddy system for lone or remote workers during extreme cold;
- Training workers on recognizing and preventing cold stress, emergency procedures, and monitoring and reporting expectations; and
- Monitoring workers and impending weather conditions.
Be prepared when winter warnings are issued
Understanding the severity of cold weather and associated warnings provides an opportunity for employers to get a jump on frostbite. Cold-weather watches and warnings may be for winter storms, wind chill, blizzards, or freezing rain
A WATCH is issued when dangerous weather is in the forecast and has the potential to affect life or property. Supervisors should ensure workers prepare for the expected weather and take appropriate action.
A WARNING is issued when severe weather has been spotted and is occurring, posing an immediate threat to life or property. Supervisors should ensure workers immediately execute appropriate safety protocols.
Since these can be hard to recall which is more severe, I’ve often trained workers to remember, “Watch out for that warning!”
Key to remember: Employees should be monitored during cold-weather tasks, especially for those working longer hours or performing heavy physical labor. New, returning, or susceptible workers must be acclimated to the cold, and supervisors should monitor employees and weather warnings.