Winter Workplace Safety: 9 Tips to Prevent Injuries and Accidents Among Employees

Written by Staff Writer | Edited by Michael Purser

Cold weather brings unique challenges to workplace safety, whether your team works outdoors, in warehouses or commutes to an office.

In this guide, we will review the risks associated with working in winter and explore what employees can do to stay safe.

Winter Weather Hazards on Worksites

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “Environmental cold can affect any worker exposed to colder air temperatures and puts workers at risk of cold stress.”

While snow and ice are visible reminders of cold environments, the dangers of lower temperatures can even be found in warmer climates. Harsh winds can create hypothermia risks on an otherwise temperate worksite. Even a longer-than-expected trip to the walk-in freezer might turn hazardous.

Some of the common risks of cold stress to avoid include:

Frostbite

Frostbite happens when part of your body freezes, such as your toes or fingers. Tissue begins to die, potentially leading to amputations.

Signs of frostbite include developing gray, white, blue, purple or dark brown patches in the fingers, toes, nose, or ear lobes. The worsening discoloration is a sign of necrosis (tissue death). Early symptoms cause tingling, loss of feeling and blisters.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when your body temperature drops below 95F. Lowered core temperature threatens heart and lung function. That, in turn, impairs cognition, including speech and coordination. More than 600 people die of hypothermia each year in the U.S.

Symptoms include uncontrolled shivering, fatigue, disorientation, slurred speech and cold, pale skin.

Immersion/Trench Foot

Trench foot is caused by extended exposure to cold, wet conditions. Snow creates plenty of both, though the problem is common up to 60F. Even with heavy waterproof boots, sweat can build up against the skin over time.

Symptoms develop due to impaired blood flow to the lower legs and can include red skin, numbness, swelling, pain, blisters and even Gangrene.

Chilblains

Chilblains can occur when you expose your skin to temperatures ranging from just above freezing to 60F. It causes painful inflammation of the small blood vessels in your skin.

Symptoms can include patches of itching, blistering, inflammation and possibly ulceration on exposed skin or extremities like fingers and toes.

9 Winter Safety Tips for Employees

Review these safety tips to protect yourself and others from cold-related injuries.

1. Know the Symptoms of Cold Stress

Everyone working in lower-temperature environments should understand the symptoms and warning signs. For example, hypothermia awareness training can prepare you to recognize a dangerously low body temperature in a coworker who is slurring their speech.

Since different environments present different dangers — for example, the difference between working in dry, freezing temperatures and cool, wet environments — employers should provide customized instructions for safe work practices.

2. Dress Properly

Workers in colder outdoor conditions should wear at least three layers of loose-fitting clothing, insulated gloves and boots and cover their heads. One of the best frostbite prevention tips is to wear enough warm clothing to protect all skin from exposure.

3. Monitor Your Physical Condition

You must take care of yourself before you can take care of anyone else. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to your own physical and mental condition as you work in colder environments. If you start to experience noticeable pain or discomfort, significant fatigue or confusion, take a break in a warm, dry environment and assess your condition.

4. Monitor Your Coworkers’ Physical Conditions

A confused victim may not know they are in danger. For example, if hypothermia develops and a person stops thinking clearly, they could stay outside much longer than they should, worsening their condition. Watch your coworkers and look for signs of cold-related stress.

5. Take Frequent Breaks

The colder it is, the more frequently you should seek shelter and take rest breaks. Frequent resting periods in a warm environment allow employers to check for signs of impairment, assess dangerous conditions and prepare employees for more work in safety.

6. Drink Warm Liquids

Drinking warm liquids helps warm up your internal body temperature in the winter. Drinking excessively cold beverages, including consuming snow or ice, can make cold stress worse.

7. Account for Potential Worksite Hazards

Winter worksites can be hazardous for a variety of reasons. It’s colder, darker and often wet with melted snow or rain. Wet environments are especially dangerous for electrical hazards. Melted water can then refreeze and create ice, a physical hazard that can be dangerous or even deadly.

Employers need to develop safety protocols for these hazards, such as slip and fall prevention strategies and instruction on the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Remember, if you ever suspect that your employer is ignoring dangerous workplace practices, exposing workers to excessive or unnecessary risks or failing to keep employees safe in other ways, you can always report violations to OSHA.

8. Be Aware of Emergency Response Procedures

Employers, foremen, managers, employees — everyone on the worksite should have some level of training in occupational safety measures relevant to their position. Those in leadership positions should have a clear understanding of how to respond to emergencies.

Some federal standards require employers to create and maintain an Emergency Action Plan (EAP), which all supervisors should have access to.

9. Perform Regular Inspections

Thoroughly inspect your work area, your equipment and environmental conditions. You can prevent workplace injuries and accidents by identifying risks early.

This helpful downloadable checklist will help you spot hazards and ensure that you have all the PPE you need when working in the cold. You can adapt the list to suit the unique conditions of your jobsite by adding, removing or changing items as needed.

Take Advantage of Our Workplace Safety Resources

A simple checklist isn’t the only tool we offer to help you deal with cold hazards.

At OSHA Education Center, we strive to be the go-to resource for workplace safety information. Whether you want to understand the basics of the OSHA general duty clause, or you need more specific information about developing emergency action plans, we have you covered.

Explore our resources and course catalog. With more than 150 training options for a variety of workplace hazards, we are prepared to help you and your employees stay safe on the job.