Freezing temperatures bring increased workplace hazards with them, including frozen pipelines, icy roads, cold stress, and other cold weather-related issues. To counter these problems and maintain required productivity levels in the work environment, employers need to provide their workers with high-quality protective workwear. These may include head protection, eyewear, jackets, gloves, base layers, boots, and other accessories to keep them warm in cold weather conditions.
When it comes to working in industrial environments such as oil and gas and farming, a frosty climate means enhanced workplace difficulties. There’s an ongoing need for improving safety and health matters on job sites during winter, from increased risk of slips and falls on icy terrains to cold-related sickness and more. As an employer, it’s your job to be aware of certain work-related dangers during the winter season and provide your workers with the right safety garments to protect them from these hazards.
Hazard #1 Sickness
Some of the most common cold-weather illnesses that can lead to increased worker absences or decreased productivity include frostbite and hypothermia. If your job site is so cold that your workers are at a constant risk of losing critical body heat or frozen skin, you must supply them with adequate warm clothing and gear for increased protection.
You can invest in essential winter apparel like coveralls, sweatshirts, hoodies, jackets, jacket liners, vests, gloves, balaclavas, and other accessories. They’re not only designed specifically for staying warm, but they are also increasingly comfortable to wear, aiding in enhanced workability in colder environments.
Hazard #2 Body Heat Loss
Excessive body heat loss occurs when you experience freezing temperatures, known as hypothermia. The reason behind this is that your body tends to lose heat faster than it can produce. Immoderate loss of heat from your body can become even more dangerous when you’re working in wet conditions.
Using moisture-absorbing clothing becomes even more critical for employee safety when temperatures drop below freezing point. Wet attire, gloves, and socks will only add to your workers’ misery operating in cold weather conditions by increasing the risk of cold stress and sickness.
To prevent unwanted body heat loss, it would help if you added high-quality, insulated workwear to your cold-weather safety program, including warm socks, waterproof boots, head protection, gloves, and hand and foot warmers.
Hazard #3 Visibility Concerns
High-speed winds, fog, decreased sunlight, constant rain or snow, and other prolonged winter weather conditions can significantly reduce your employees’ visibility. This can put your workers at increased risk of being struck by oncoming traffic or heavy equipment even during routine operations.
Suppose the nature of your work requires your workforce to operate in the outside environment. In that case, you need to ensure they wear the necessary winter safety gear for increased reflective protection and improved visibility. There are various high-viz clothing and other accessories like coveralls, parkas, vests, and gloves available that you can invest in for your workers’ enhanced wellbeing.
Hazard #4 Slips And Falls
Snow, ice, rain, and sleet can all make walkways slippery, making it dangerous for your workers to walk on and complete daily tasks, no matter whether they’re operating indoors or outdoors. You can provide your employees with footwear explicitly designed for slippery surfaces to create a safer and healthier workplace.
About Work Life Workwear
At Work Life Workwear, we are immensely proud to provide the entire Alberta community with high-quality protective workwear products and services. Visit our online store to see our specialized items or contact us for personalized service.
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