Working in Cold Conditions
As winter approaches, working safely in cold workplaces and working out in the elements can become a health and safety issue. Harsher weather conditions, shorter days, and slippery surfaces can pose unique safety risks to workers. It is important to implement effective safety measures to ensure the well-being of workers and to ensure that businesses remain productive throughout the winter months.
Many workers have to brave the elements or, in some cases, work indoors in a particularly chilly or temperature-controlled environment, e.g. in cold stores or freezers in the food industry.
Working in cold environments poses unique risks and challenges that employers must manage carefully to ensure employee safety.
What harm can be caused by working in cold conditions?
Cold temperatures can increase the risk of a number of health and safety issues, including:
Hypothermia
This occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Typical body temperature is around 37°C. Hypothermia is caused when the body temperature drops to a dangerously low level of around 35°C. Symptoms include shivering, pale, cold and dry skin – skin and lips may turn blue or grey (on black or brown skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet), slurred speech, slow breathing, tiredness or confusion.
Frostbite
This is an injury caused by the freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. This condition can affect any part of your body, but the extremities, such as the hands, feet, ears, nose and lips, are most likely to be affected. The symptoms of frostbite usually begin with the affected parts feeling cold and painful. If exposure to the cold continues, you may feel pins and needles before the area becomes numb as the tissues freeze.
Cold stress
Cold air can reduce the body’s ability to recognise the sensation of cold, leading to prolonged exposure without realisation.
Reduced muscle functionality
Cold temperatures can make muscles stiff and reduce dexterity. This can increase the risk of accidents.
Cold-induced asthma
A person who has asthma can be at risk. Breathing in cold air can trigger asthma. The main symptoms of asthma include a whistling sound when breathing (wheezing), breathlessness, a tight chest, which may feel like a band is tightening around it and coughing. The symptoms can sometimes get temporarily worse. This is known as an asthma attack.
Slips and falls
Ice and snow can create slippery conditions, leading to increased slip and fall risks. Injuries associated with a fall can include sprains, strains, bruising, broken limbs concussions and head injuries.
Vehicle accidents
If a worker’s job involves driving, heavy rain, snow, and icy conditions can increase the risk of an accident.
Other health conditions
Working in cold environments for long periods has also been associated with a variety of health issues, such as arthritis, rheumatism, carpal tunnel syndrome, and even cardiovascular problems like bronchitis or heart disease. Prolonged exposure to the cold can also worsen the symptoms of these illnesses.
Is there a legal minimum temperature for work?
Whilst there is no legal minimum temperature at which staff are not permitted to work, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) do give some guidance.
For workplaces such as shops and offices, the minimum temperature usually recommended is 16°C. For more physically demanding indoor work, such as warehouse tasks, a minimum of 13°C is recommended.
Employers do have to provide a reasonable temperature in the workplace as well as implement measures for those workers who may be working outside in cold conditions.
What can be done to help reduce the risks?
Modification of the working processes.
Preventing workers from being exposed to the cold is the preferred option. Whislt this is not always possible, can work be carried out indoors? For example, by moving a piece of equipment into the workshop rather than working on it outside.
Can work be rescheduled so that it can be carried out in warmer weather?
Where such prevention is not possible, other conditions should be employed.
Providing heating
Having installed heating systems or use portable heaters to maintain a comfortable temperature in workspaces. It will be necessary to check that heating systems are maintained to ensure their serviceability.
Additional heating sources, such as portable heaters, can be provided to help maintain a comfortable working temperature. It is important to check that any additional heaters do not pose a fire risk and that employees know how to use them correctly (for instance, not trying to dry clothes on them).
Provision of Personal Protective Equipment
PPE can help reduce the risks associated with working in cold weather. From head to toe, suitable PPE could include;
Headwear. Providing a beanie or balaclava-style hat can help keep workers warm. Similarly, a hood on an insulating coat can work in the same way. Some hard hats have the option of an integrated liner to add thermal protection when wearing them.
Thermal clothing. Base layers, fleece clothing, cold store or freezer jackets, outer jackets all provide thermal insulation. Layering up where possible is always best as layers of clothing create air pockets around the body, which helps retain body heat. Outdoor coats with a storm flap over zips also help to reduce heat loss.
It is important to ensure that items of PPE and cold weather clothing are compatible with each other. They should not interfere with any other required PPE such as hard hats, goggles or masks.
Gloves. Thermal gloves should be well-fitted to ensure that workers have the manual dexterity to perform tasks – ill-fitting or loose gloves can lead to accidents.
Waterproof layer. A waterproof or water-resistant outer layer could be suitable for certain working environments, such as in wet or snowy weather. Having the provision for workers to be able to change out of wet clothes and into dry ones is important. This is to reduce the risk of frostbite or hypothermia.
Footwear. Safety boots should have non-slip soles and be waterproof or water-resistant. If steel-toed footwear is required for the job, workers should wear extra or thicker socks, as the metal in the boots can act as a cold sink, leading to an increased risk of frostbite in the toes. An alternative to steel-toed boots is composite toe cap boots. Composite toe caps can provide the same protection as steel and are less likely to act as a cold sink.
Staff should be briefed and receive training on using the PPE they are issued. Among other things, PPE training should include the following;
- an explanation of the risks present and why PPE is needed;
- the operation, performance and limitations of the equipment;
- instructions on the selection, use and storage of PPE. Written operating procedures such as permits-to-work involving PPE should be explained;
- factors that can affect the protection provided by the PPE, such as the use of other protective equipment, personal factors, working conditions, inadequate fitting, defects, damage and wear;
- the ability to recognise defects in PPE and arrangements for reporting loss or defect
Wet clothing will also contribute to reducing body temperature. Where it is applicable, having spare PPE available for issue to employees where theirs has become wet is important.
Regular breaks
Ensure workers have regular breaks in warm areas to recover from the cold. Access to warm drinks can also help in raising body temperatures and improve morale.
Welfare Facilities
Having well-maintained and warm welfare facilities where employees can take their rest breaks to warm up is important.
The provision of changing and drying facilities where wet clothing can be removed and dried.
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*Disclaimer: Please note that it is the duty of the employer to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment to ensure that adequate controls are in place to protect workers against cold environments. This page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information on this page is intended as an overall introduction to working in cold environments. Practical Safety Ltd aims to avoid, but accepts no liability, if any information stated is out of date.
