Page 48 - OHS, October 2022

WINTER HAZARDS
Hypothermia and Nine More
Winter Workplace Hazards
A hot summer can make summer seem less dangerous, but don’t be fooled.
BY KAREN HAMEL
After a summer with record-breaking heatwaves in many parts of the country, it can be tempting to relax and view the upcoming winter temperatures as a welcome relief. But winter brings its own challenges. Reviewing each of the jobs and tasks that will need to be performed outdoors during winter months and identifying the safety hazards associated with performing those duties are the first steps in creating a cold weather safety plan to minimize the risk of incidents.
Hypothermia and Frostbite
Hypothermia and frostbite are the most common types of cold stress injuries. They can occur at above freezing temperatures (40 degrees Fahrenheit), with winds as low as five miles per hour.
Staying safe doesn’t mean that all outdoor activities need to cease until spring. But, even workers who have had time to acclimate to working in cold conditions will still need modified work schedules, warming areas, appropriate outerwear and training to be able to recognize the first signs of cold exposure.
Reviewing data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Wind Chill Chart is a good starting point for planning outdoor work schedules. It uses the air temperature and wind speed to calculate how long an average adult can be outdoors before frostbite begins to set in.
The American College of Industrial Hygienists has also established cold stress Threshold Limit Values for people performing moderate and heavy workloads outdoors in low temperatures. Like NOAA’s recommendations, they factor in both air temperature and wind speed. However, workload is also considered as well as guidelines for working and warming cycles.
Slips and Falls
It’s not a coincidence that slip, trip and fall incidents are more prevalent in winter months. Snow and ice make walking surfaces slippery, and they can often mask obstacles like parking curbs, cracks and uneven pavement.
Although you can’t plan for snow or ice to happen on a particular day or at a particular time, being well prepared for inclement weather before it happens helps maintenance crews to tackle whatever Mother Nature sends their way.
Evgeniy Zhukov/Shutterstock.com
Planning should begin in late summer or early autumn. Verify that there are an adequate number of shovels, and stock up on ice melt, rock salt, sand or anti-slip materials. Don’t wait until winter to stock up on these items because they are often in short supply as soon as the first snow arrives. Service salt spreaders, plowing equipment, snow blowers and any other equipment that will be needed so that everything is in good working condition.
Establish work schedules and seek any necessary approvals to modify those schedules as needed to ensure that snow and ice will be removed from parking lots and sidewalks at least half an hour before employees arrive and leave each day. If plowing and shoveling are outsourced, specify the times when lots and sidewalks need to be cleared in contracts.
Low Light Conditions
Fewer daylight hours in the winter months means that outdoor work is more likely to happen in low light conditions. Snow, sleet and freezing rain can reduce visibility even further.
Along with other pre-winter preparations, ensure that anyone who will be working outdoors has appropriate high-visibility reflective clothing. If the reflective properties are incorporated into coats, hats, gloves or overalls, consider having two sets for each employee so that they can be changed if they become wet.
Even for those who won’t routinely be working outdoors, low lighting can hide or mask slippery surfaces. Additional lighting in parking lots and along sidewalks can help to minimize these risks. If this isn’t possible, consider establishing walking paths that will be the first to be cleared and that are in the best-lit areas of the lot.
Winter Driving
Not everyone grew up in the north, so they may not have a lot of experience driving in the snow. Even those who are experienced can’t control the actions of other drivers.
The pandemic has taught us that many types of work can be performed from home. Review any existing work-from-home policies to determine if they can be expanded to include working from home during winter weather events.
Establish and enforce driving policies for any employee who
44 Occupational Health & Safety | OCTOBER 2022
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