Beating the winter blues

The effects of the cold range from increased risk of injury to a reduction in work rate and quality. So how can you and your business prepare from the adverse effects of winter?

Working outside in harsh conditions doesn’t just take a toll on your staff, there is also a greater potential for damage to plant and equipment.

The cold also affects a worker’s ability to concentrate on the task at hand, and can increase irritability and frustration, which may lead people to take shortcuts to finish faster.

Even moderately cold temperatures can increase the likelihood of workplace incidents. This is because the body’s response to cold causes a decrease in manual dexterity, fingertip sensitivity and muscle strength. The degree of coldness can be underestimated if other factors, such as wind chill, aren’t considered.

Completely eliminating cold hazards can be difficult; therefore, consider the following minimising controls when working in cold conditions:

Food, shelter and wellbeing

Food and liquid intake are essential to maintain body heat and prevent dehydration. More energy is exerted working in cold conditions, because the body is working hard to keep warm.

WorkSafe NZ states that if continuous work is carried out in temperatures below 0°C, heated shelters such as cabins or ‘smoko’ rooms should be made available. A strict timetable for breaks should be allowed, so employees can warm up and change clothes if necessary.

Training

Workers and supervisors should be trained to recognise the symptoms of cold exposure, such as hypothermia. Having a trained first aid person is highly recommended. Employees should be informed about PPE, safe work practices and emergency procedures in case of injury.

Personal Protective Equipment

Clothing should be worn in multiple polypropylene, polyester or Merino layers, because the air between the layers of clothing provides better insulation. The outer layer should be hi-vis, rain and wind-proof and easily opened or removed.

Exposed areas, such as the head, hands and feet, are just as important. Gloves are an obvious option; however, these can be bulky and affect a worker’s manual handling. As an alternative, you should provide warm air blowers or insulated handles on tools.

Buy footwear that is well padded, insulated and made from materials such as leather, which allows the shoes to ‘breathe’.

Equipment

The risk of cold injury can be minimised by equipment choice and design. Plant, equipment and tools should be designed so that they can be operated without having to remove PPE items. The more complex or fiddly the activity, the greater the likelihood that PPE will be discarded during the process, which increases the risk.

Plan ahead

To avoid harsh winter conditions, plan work that is appropriate to the weather. If you cannot be adequately protected from the effects of the cold, then work must be suspended or the regime modified, to remove the risk of harm.

For more information visit www.sitesafe.org.nz.