Employee safety and working conditions can be a challenge during the winter season. Though the Occupational Safety and Health Administration did not state specific standards for working during this season, Aerotech Herman Nelson International, Inc. believes that all employees shall be educated about the hazards, protection needed, and equipment used on working during winter.
These challenges do not only put risks on the employee’s safety but also affect the work performance of everyone on the team. Here are some of the ways how you can prepare and overcome working during this season.
Train The Team
Training the employees about the risks of working during winter, the organization can avoid emergency calls if winter-related illnesses and injuries occur.
This training includes proper outdoor clothing during wet and windy conditions. Wearing insulated, moisture-wicking inner clothing and waterproof outer clothing is needed to keep body temperature warm.
Aside from clothing, every employee should wear insulated safety gloves, fog-resistant safety glasses, winter liners for hard hats, and safety shoes that meet our company’s safety standards.
Our branch managers at Aerotech Herman Nelson International, Inc. ensures all employees have training and licensed to operate heavy equipment during the cold season. Equipment training in empty parking lots is suggested by the OSHA. The government agency also reminds us that heavy equipment should have a flashlight, jumper cables, blankets, and other emergency items.
Prepare a Warming Shelter
Aside from providing employees insulated clothing, OSHA also recommends companies provide a heated shelter to temporarily reduce risks of cold stress. These shelters can be heated tents or storage containers that are equipped with indirect fired and flameless heaters.
Plowing off areas surrounding the construction equipment, walkways, and roofs will keep a safe work place. Using salt or sand will help remove any patches of ice.
Keep the plowed ice away from worksites, and if possible, pile them on an inclined surface to keep your worksite dry when the snow melts.
Another worksite concern during winter is having an unpaved surface. Because of heavy snowfalls, these surfaces cannot be identified which can be a risk of accidents and equipment damage.
Equipment and Performance Protection
Additional equipment that can be used is ground sheets. These are specifically designed to protect equipment from getting stuck in snow or mud piles during the winter season.
Knowledge of how materials react to cold temperatures is also important to keep them working properly.
Preparation for Winter-Related Illnesses and Work
Snow and extremely low temperatures can affect the company’s deliverables. The management should be prepared in case there is a work stoppage. All clients should be notified during these circumstances and confirm a new schedule for deliveries.
Aside from client concerns, the employee’s health should also be considered. Before the peak of the winter season, advise all employees to stay at home if they are sick. It will prevent the spreading of the virus, especially during this pandemic.
