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10 Cold Weather Safety Tips for Outdoor Workers

This article is part of our Back To Basics series, which highlights fundamental principles of environmental, health, and safety management. The series is written for EHS professionals new to this industry, as well as experienced pros who want to keep their skills fresh. 

For most of us, staying toasty when the mercury drops is a matter of comfort. But for workers who spend their days in frigid conditions, it’s a matter of life and death.

Consider this: Cold weather is nearly 20 times more deadly than heat, according to a study of over 74 million deaths in 13 countries between 1985 and 2012. What’s more, the majority of deaths happened on moderately cold days rather than in extreme temperatures.

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Cold can affect any worker, but those who spend the majority of their time outdoors — such as linemen, oil and gas workers, construction crews, agricultural workers and commercial fishermen — are particularly susceptible.

Below, we’ll answer some of the most common questions about cold weather safety, as well as provide some cold weather safety tips for outdoor workers. 

What are the OSHA rules on cold weather?

OSHA doesn’t have a specific standard that covers cold weather. However, employers have a responsibility to provide a workplace that is free from serious recognized hazards, including cold stress. This includes providing employees with training on how to recognize hazards and proper precautions to take in order to stay safe. 

How cold is too cold to work outside? 

The short answer is, it depends. As we mentioned above, most worker deaths happen on moderately cold days rather than in extreme temperatures. There are a few reasons for this. 

First, different regions have different definitions of extreme cold. In areas like Texas that are not accustomed to cold weather, temperatures in the 20’s or 30’s might be considered “extreme cold”. Meanwhile, the same temperature might be considered “average” in a place like North Dakota. Unusually cold temperatures, snow, and ice can be particularly problematic for workers that are not used to winter weather. 

Wind chill is another factor that can affect outdoor workers. Wind chill describes what the air temperature feels like on human skin due to the combination of temperature and wind speed. The faster the wind blows, the more heat it draws away from your body — lowering skin temperature and, eventually, core temperature. Importantly, the calculation for wind chill takes into consideration how fast the body loses heat. This makes it a more accurate measure of cold risk than temperature alone. 

Things like being wet, overtired, or having underlying health conditions can also increase the risks of dangerous conditions like hypothermia and frostbite. 

Best practices for working safely in cold weather

In addition to hypothermia and frostbite, cold weather increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke. There’s also the risk of injuries from shoveling snow or slipping on ice. To guard against these hazards, follow these 10 best practices for working safely in cold weather: 

1. Provide guidance on how to dress properly for the weather. Wear loose-fitting layers, as well as insulated, waterproof boots, gloves, and a hat. Avoid cotton—including jeans, tshirts, and underwear—as it can hold moisture close to the skin.

2. Cover bare metal surfaces, such as handles and railings, with insulating material. Check to make sure tools and machinery can be operated safely without removing gloves.

3. Provide plenty of warm liquids throughout the day. Remember that dehydration is still a serious risk in cold weather. 

4. Encourage workers to consume warm foods like soups and stews, oatmeal, and whole grain pasta. These can help with warming, as well as provide the extra calories needed for the body to produce heat.

5. Teach workers to recognize the signs of hypothermia. Shivering is often the first indication of mild hypothermia. At this stage, removing the person from the cold environment and offering heated blankets and hot drinks is often an effective intervention. 

6. Monitor workers carefully and use the buddy system. Workers should keep an eye out for one another and be on the lookout for warning signs of cold stress. 

7. Train workers on first aid for cold injury. Make sure each work site is equipped with a first aid kit that includes heat packs and a thermometer. 

8. Gradually introduce workers to the cold to allow the body time to adjust. Cold acclimatization typically takes about two weeks in normal, healthy adults. 

9. Schedule breaks in warm areas such as heated tents, shelters, or even a warm vehicle. 

10. Encourage workers to report unsafe conditions. Mobile reporting apps make it easy for workers to notify management about potential issues while out in the field.

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Note: This post was originally published November 2020 and was updated February 2023 for freshness, comprehensiveness, and clarity.