Winter may be on its way, but work never stops. On a construction site, winter doesn’t just bring frost—it brings a whole host of hazards. From slips and trips to frozen fingers and damaged equipment, cold temperatures require specific countermeasures to ensure a safe and productive site during the winter months. Below are tips and areas to watch over when working on jobsites in the winter months.
Keep worker exposure to freezing temperatures to a minimum. Cold weather might seem a nuisance, but it can be a real threat for those you work outdoors. Freezing temperatures cause skin and internal body temperatures to drop, causing frostbite, chilblains, and even hypothermia. All of this can cause serious illnesses that can result in permanent tissue damage or, in more serious cases, death.
In periods of very cold weather, if work cannot be rescheduled, consider setting up warm areas for workers and make hot drinks accessible during breaks. You should also consider running shorter shifts to reduce exposure time and physical exertion.
Winter inspections and prevention. Now that winter is in full swing, now is the perfect time for a seasonal inspection of your site. As the weather gets worse, it’s more important than ever to ensure adequate safety measures at all times.
Maintain surfaces. Access roads and parking areas should be maintained all year round so they’re free of pot holes and uneven surfaces. Once the ground is frozen, access maintenance becomes much more difficult. Having a well-maintained road before winter starts will make snow removal and maintenance easier once worst conditions blow in. Any holes, excavations or ditching that can’t be filled in should be delineated using barricades and marked clearly, even if it snows.
As part of the usual on-site checks, take the time to specifically consider problems that only occur during winter. Inclines that appear perfectly benign in autumn could potentially become dangerous slipping hazards with a little ice, especially on wooden ramps and scaffolding.
Keep any reserves of sand, salt, or grit you plan to use are readily available and create a safe procedure to implement safety measures when the time comes.
Tools and machinery. Make sure fluids, such as engine and hydraulic oils, in your equipment is rated for the temperatures in your area and replace them if needed. Check that heaters in cabs are working properly and regularly clear off ice or snow from windscreens and steps.
Drain fluid from air compressor tanks after each use to prevent the moisture that has accumulated from freezing and damaging the tank. Put antifreeze tool oil in your pneumatic tools and air hoses to protect against the cold.
You should also ensure that tools are used differently in cold weather. For example, fire empty nail guns at 40 psi in freezing temperatures to warm them up before use.
Near the end of the winter season, it will be time to prepare for spring melt. Good site preparation during pre-season planning will ensure that preparations for spring melt are already in place.
At the end of the winter season, equipment and materials may need to be ordered that will be needed for spring melt, such as pumps and hoses for dewatering. Prior to spring melt, review the plan and ensure that planned water run-off areas are still appropriate.
Also, determine if ditching systems will be able to handle the amount of water that may accumulate based on the amount of snow. Assume the worst-case scenario and that all the snow will melt very quickly.
Slips and trips. Slips and trips are the most common cause of injury at work. On average, they cause over a third of all major injuries and can lead to other types of accidents, such as falls from height or falls into machinery. Winter weather increases the risk of falls due to ice and wet, slippery surfaces.
When surfaces become cold, ice can accumulate on scaffolding, ladders, walkways, stairs, and work platforms. If these areas are not treated correctly, built from weather resistant materials, or cordoned off, they can cause workers to slip and fall. If this occurs at height, injuries can include broken bones, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and even death.
Prevention is essential when protecting against slips and trips, so keeping hand rails and walkways free of snow and ice is vital. Where you cannot provide safety to workers, make sure those areas are clearly marked to prevent access.
Removing snow and ice. The act of shovelling snow can be extremely strenuous, especially for those individuals who do not engage in regular cardiovascular activity. Studies have shown that cold temperatures can constrict arteries, which increases blood pressure and the chance of a heart attack.
Snow removal equipment creates extremely slippery surfaces after snow has been removed. To mitigate this, grit should be distributed after the equipment has completed snow removal.
If you use de-icer, make sure site environmental requirements are met. Some sites prohibit the use of de-icers that are salt based as they can change the pH and conductivity of ground water.
Personal protection equipment. Winter personal protection equipment (PPE) can be bulky and limit mobility. As a result, over protection may result in unnecessary hazards to workers. It’s important to balance protection against the cold and the hazards of the job task, while still allowing mobility and dexterity to complete tasks.
Selecting PPE that best suits the task and the conditions will ensure the risk of injury is mitigated to a level as low as possible without compromising productivity.
Gloves need to be heavy and durable, but with the right fabric and texture to allow you to remain dexterous. They should also be durable and waterproof in case of rain, melting snow, and ice.
Waterproofing is as important for gloves as it is for boots. Insulated gloves and boots keep your feet warm and dry. If moisture gets in, amount of layers will keep your feet warm. They also need to be breathable, so perspiration can get out.
Finally, footwear should provide adequate traction when working at winter construction sites to reduce the chance of slipping.
About the author:
Barry Eagle is
Modern Contractor Solutions, February 2019
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