Winter Safety

In our region of the country, it may seem early to begin thinking about cold weather, but it will be here before we know it. So, it's time for our annual review of cold weather safety. Once cold weather hits, it is essential that you are stocked up on the seasonal items you need. NIOSH tells us that outdoor workers, those in areas without shelter, and those in poorly insulated/unheated locations, are at highest risk of cold stress injuries. 

Some workplaces see cold environment risks year round. However, many more only face these risks during winter months. So, as you continue to focus on the current need for high heat safety, we are here to make sure you are prepared for what is just around the corner. Each year, many of our vendors manufacture a limited number of their cold weather items, knowing that there is not a demand for these products once the weather begins to warm again. So, we often see items sell out before clients are able to secure their preferred option. 

That said, let's take a quick review of what risks the cold brings. As we covered in last year’s cold environment safety blog, OSHA does not currently have a standard specific to cold environments, but instead we know that this area of safety falls under Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1970, which requires that employers provide a workplace free of recognized hazards. 

When considering how to best protect against cold environment hazards, OSHA does provide us guidance in the form of a Cold Stress Guide. This guide covers a range of topics from general information to specifics of the common injuries relating to cold environments. While we will not go into all of these details for this blog, we encourage you to read the guide in its entirety if you are responsible for managing the safety of your crews in the cold. 

One of the most important aspects of keeping workers safe in cold environments is understanding when things are getting too cold for safe exposure. OSHA says that there is not a simple answer for this, being that each of our bodies is accustomed to our environments. So, as a resident of the relatively warm southeastern United States, extreme cold for me would be near freezing temperatures while someone used to colder environments may have a different threshold. OSHA also includes factors such as wind chill impact risks which magnify cold weather hazards. 

In order to best prevent injuries from cold stress, employers are directed to train employees in recognition and prevention of cold stress injuries, engineer out risks where possible, set safe work practices into the routine, and provide necessary PPE to employees at risk. There is no need for this task to be overwhelming because we are here to assist you with any and all of your cold weather safety needs. Give us a call at 919-602-2503 or reach out to marketing@safetypackonline.com with any questions. 

Resources: 

• NIOSH, "Cold and Work: Types, Causes, Preparation" (2024): https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/cold-stress/about/
• OSHA "Cold Stress Guide": https://www.osha.gov/emergency-preparedness/guides/cold-stress
• SPS Cold Environment Safety Blog: https://safetypackonline.com/blogs/themes-in-safety/cold-environment-worker-safety