A Short Guide to Working Safely in Winter Weather 2023

A Short Guide to Working Safely in Winter Weather 2023

Despite the relative downturn in industries across the board due to the coronavirus pandemic – and sympathetic downturn in employment numbers – the construction industry still responsible for the employment of over 2 million UK workers. And, as colder days roll in, it is crucial that they are all allowed to work safely in colder and less clement weather. Here is a quick guide for ensuring your safety on-site.

Plan for Regular Breaks

Fatigue is a very real danger to your health and safety on-site, where strenuous tasks using heavy loads, dangerous tools and hazardous equipment. Cold weather multiplies the risk here, as extended exposure to lower temperatures can quicken the onset of exhaustion, as well as cause reduced grip strength and shivering.

Planning out your work for the day can help manage your temperature and energy levels; regular breaks in particular are key to remaining safe at work. Your employers are required to provide adequate facilities for rest and eating, and those rest areas should allow employees to warm up as well – whether through provision of hot drinks or heating.

Dress for the Weather

A Short Guide to Working Safely in Winter Weather 2022

Of course, breaks alone are not enough to regulate body temperature when working outdoors in the winter. It is also important to dress for the weather, to protect yourself, your extremities, conserve your core body temperature. Thick socks and boots are a must, to keep your feet warm and to maintain traction on potentially slippery surfaces; gloves keep your hands from going numb while handling dangerous equipment; and as the days grow shorter and more work is carried out in the dark, it is important to choose a high-visibility jacket to ensure you remain visible and safe on-site.

Keep Dry Where Possible

Temperature and light are not the only concerns for working outside in the winter months; colder weather also invites an increase in rainfall, making for wet or damp construction sites and an increased level of risk as a result. Without the provision of waterproofs to protect your body, your clothes can become soaked in wet weather, accelerating the rate at which you lose body heat and making for an uncomfortable working experience. As such, you should make sure to keep a large umbrella within reach, or pack waterproof overclothes to protect yourself from the elements.

Incorporate a Buddy System

Buddy systems are an efficient and effective way to ensure the safety of staff on a site in the darker days afforded by the winter. This is especially true for larger construction sites, where a significant cohort of workers are present and active – having workers coupled up and accountable for each other ensures that a given worker’s location is known by at least one person at all times, and that no one is missed in the event of an evacuation.

Take immediate precautions if you hear these words on the news:

WINTER STORM WARNING: Severe, life-threatening winter conditions have begun within 24 hours.
SPEED WARNING: Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 miles per hour or greater and significant snowfall or blowing that reduces visibility to less than a quarter-mile are expected to prevail for three hours or more.
WIND CHILL Temperature: The cold that people and animals feel when outside. The wind chill is not actual temperature but rather the sensation of wind and cold on exposed skin.
Winter Storm Watch: Winter storm conditions are possible in the next 36 to 48 hours. Check your winter storm plans and stay informed about weather conditions.