Thirteen Simple Winter Worker Safety Tips to Keep Employees Safe in the Cold

With the holiday season upon us, we collectively brace for the impending cold, winter weather. For your employees that work outside, it’s especially Important to recognize the challenges cold weather can bring to winter worker safety, including frostbite, trench foot and hypothermia to name just a few. To keep your workers safe and secure when working outside, here are a number of methods to protect them against the elements:

1. Schedule work for the warmest part of the day
2. Instruct and encourage employees to wear proper clothing for cold, wet and windy conditions, including layers that can be adjusted to changing conditions
3. Educate your workers about cold-induced illnesses and injuries
4. Have employees use the buddy system and work in pairs so that one employee can recognize danger signs in another
5. Instruct employees to take extra precaution when entering and exiting vehicles
6. Have de-icing products handy for hard-to-remove ice or snow
7. Have workers wear slip-resistant footwear
8. Instruct employees to avoid carrying heavy loads that may offset your balance
9. Have workers wear sunglasses on sunny days to lessen winter glare
10. Employees in extremely cold conditions should take frequent, short breaks in warm dry shelters to allow their bodies to warm up
11. Make sure workers do not exert themselves to the point of exhaustion or fatigue because energy is needed to keep muscles warm
12. Make sure employees stay hydrated with warm, sweet beverages (sports-type drinks) and avoid drinks with caffeine (coffee, tea, sodas or hot chocolate) or alcohol
13. Inform employees to eat warm, high-calorie foods such as hot pasta dishes

We at Security Specialists Want You and Your Workers to Stay Safe this Winter Season!