Winter Weather/Cold Stress
How does your company deal with quick, drastic temperature changes? 🤔
Thursday, our temperature is supposed to go from a high of 49⁰F to a low of -1⁰F, plus a wind chill of -25⁰F, all within a 24-hour period. Workers can show up in a long-sleeved shirt or a hoodie, but then will experience extreme cold temps later that night. How do you address the risk of cold stress and cold-related injuries/illnesses in situations like this? 🥶
Comment and let us know how you handle these situations. 👇🏻
Comments (13)
I feel like administrative controls work well for big temp swings. Adjust the amount of time each shift is exposed to the weather and alternate groups
One of my first EHS roles was with an environmental engineering firm working on remediation projects. In the northeast, in the fall and spring, the temperature often swings between freezing and above freezing temps in the same day. Fall and spring are also our wet seasons so it'll also often swing between rain and snow like is shown in your forecast. The challenge then becomes staying dry in addition to staying warm.
We were often lucky enough to have heated tents available on many of our sites. They're not exactly "warm", but it gives you a spot out of the elements with a little more room than your truck cab. We'd have changes of clothes, boot warmers, etc.
I realize it's probably too late for you today, but if you're on sites without a heated trailer or other structure, it's a pretty good option, especially when combined with the administrative controls David mentioned.
Preparing in advance. We've been talking about this to our teams for days, I work at a ski resort now so everyone is outside all day. We're making sure to plan for job rotation and breaks, suggesting bringing extra layers and change of clothes if need, hand warmers. Ice is going to be a huge issue after rain so enforcing cleats, making sure they're salting the walkways. I'd imagine it's not going to be that busy here bc of the weather so the lift attendants and other workers will be able to sit in their heated booths most of the day
I will trade you! Temp to drop to -5 with 50 mph winds. Another 4-5" of snow on top of the 5" we just got. If you lived 15 miles inland, away from Lake Michigan the temp is supposed to be -15 to -20. Wind chill -40 or so. The Lake is like a big hot water bottle in the winter and a big ice cube in the summer!
First of all in the Upper Midwest this is nothing! The first winter I spent here in was -10 or colder for 6 weeks, often -25 to -30 F. Instead of 10" of snow we would get 3'. We are all use to driving on snow, and most of us have 4X4 trucks and SUVs. I have a 12hp snowblower that does an awesome job with the snow! I love it when I can blow it across the street into my neighbors lawn from my lawn, then he will blow it back! The colder it is, the better the snow blows. I wish I could use it much more! I hate two things, #1 that rain and then 1/2" of snow! I have to get our there and do it the old fashion way with a ice scrapper and shovel! #2 When it 30 to 35 with slush! Snowblowers hate slush! WE all have very warn clothing. I will take my Golden, Gus for a walk in awhile with my insulated coveralls! I love to walk in the woods with snow falling!
