In winter, many industries are directly concerned by deteriorating weather conditions (cold, rain, snow…). Professional sectors such as construction and delivery are the most affected by the drop in temperature, but they are not the only ones. Whenever employees are required to work in a warehouse, business premises or outdoors, team managers or purchasing managers must implement optimal working conditions to protect their teams from the cold and wet conditions. These improvements involve preventing cold-related hazards and selecting the appropriate cold weather equipment.
What are the consequences of a lack of cold weather equipment?
Employers and employees must be cautious about exposure to a temperature level below 5 °C at work. In addition to the very genuine risks to teams’ health and safety, there is also an impact on their performance.
What risks are employees with inadequate protection against extreme cold weather running?
There are many health and safety risks when employees are exposed to extreme cold. Here are some of them:
- Hypothermia, i.e., an abnormal drop in the body’s core temperature;
- Frostbite: extreme cold-induced injuries to body tissue (feet, hands, ears, nose);
- Drowsiness, which can lead to accidents;
- Injuries because of an accident (slippery floor, equipment with a cold metal surface, loss of dexterity, etc.);
- Decreased blood supply to the extremities of the body;
- Musculoskeletal disorders.
The right of employees to refuse work because of extreme cold
Although the regulations may vary from one country to another, employees have the right to refuse to work in the extreme cold as soon as this implies imminent and serious danger to their health or even to their lives. This is also the case if the protective equipment or systems are found to be defective.
If no suitable device is set up to protect employees from cold conditions (provision of suitable equipment, heating of the premises, etc.), they can refuse to work without loss of pay. It should be noted that legislation on the subject does not always mention a precise minimum temperature. It is thus up to the manager and the teams to assess whether there is danger or not.
Loss of productivity at the company
Not considering safety and thermal protection at work can lead to health hazards, as well as the company risking a real drop in activity during the winter months.
Construction workers, refuse collectors, agricultural workers and employees in cold stores or slaughterhouses are directly exposed to extreme cold. Implementing preventive measures and providing suitable technical equipment helps them to cope with the cold and carry out their tasks in the time allotted without putting themselves at risk.
Occupations and lines of business affected by protection against the cold
All professions involving work outdoors in the cold during the winter require extreme cold equipment to be worn and certain safety measures to be implemented. Thus, the transport, delivery and construction sector companies must consider the weather conditions in which their employees are working, particularly in colder countries.
These are not the only professional fields to which protection against the cold applies. Cold room workers (restaurants, supermarkets, slaughterhouses, etc.) or factory workers are also exposed to cold-related risks. Personal protective equipment (PPE) that protects the wearer against falling temperatures is essential for both team safety and the continuance of the company’s business activities.
What solutions are there for workers facing extreme cold?
Many solutions exist to make sure workers are protected from the cold while working. The company should start their protection upstream by providing awareness-raising information for employees, as well as by the purchase of cold weather equipment for work.
Prevention to combat extreme-cold-related hazards
Beyond what is required by regulations, informing and educating employees about the risks of working in the cold is a must for all companies. This advice enables managers to prevent a lot of accidents. Workers in cold environments must be made aware of the symptoms arising from exposure to the cold.
The clothing recommendations for cold weather gear at work must be posted for all employees to see:
- Insulated clothing with thermal properties to stay warm;
- Dry clothing to conserve body heat;
- Leather boots with rubber soles suitable for the extreme cold.
Employees are required to work in pairs as often as possible for mutual supervision and protection.
A restricted cold zone with heated rooms nearby
Restricting employees’ presence and work in very cold areas is strongly advised. Employees working outdoors or in environments where temperatures are particularly low are advised to regularly go to break rooms with heating suited to mitigating extreme cold.
This also means carefully planning the time spent working outdoors in winter or in places where temperatures are very low (warehouses, cold rooms, etc.). Reducing the hazards from extreme cold also includes snow removal, creating safe access to the activity area and providing adequate work equipment.
What are the warmest clothes for combatting the extreme cold?
Protecting employees during episodes of extreme cold requires the use of appropriate cold weather equipment. Purchasing protective work clothes that combat the cold must therefore be a priority for the company. Personal protective equipment should be provided for all the teams, who should be given a set of extreme cold clothing to combat challenging thermal conditions:
- Thermal underwear and warm winter socks;
- Insulating fleece jackets;
- Trousers and over trousers;
- Pair of winter gloves or mittens;
- Neck warmer;
- Hats;
- Suitable safety shoes.
European Directive 89/686/EEC, which has been adopted by all the member countries of the European Union, decrees that personal protective equipment must fulfil certain requirements. So, work clothing that meets the standards provides optimum protection for employees encountering conditions of extreme cold.
Technical clothing available from sports brands
Technical clothing brands designed for skiing or hiking can be used for cold weather gear at work. This includes underwear and clothing such as fleeces, thermal jackets, merino wool socks, down jackets, and insulating parkas. Other garments are also designed to protect their wearers from the wind.
Depending on their technical level and brand, this cold weather gear is available in a wide range of prices in travel and outdoor sports shops. High-quality, effective cold weather materials such as merino wool often have a high purchase price, which is compensated by how durable the products are. Fleece, available from hiking and travel specialists, also offers great thermal performance.
Workers exposed to extreme cold can use the recommendations given by cross-country skiing or mountain hiking brands. They are advised to follow a layering system and wear three layers of clothing:
- The first layer, which is in contact with the skin, should be breathable to wick away sweat (polyester and other synthetic materials, merino wool);
- The second layer should insulate the wearer against the cold (fleece jacket, down jacket);
- The last layer is technical and should be both waterproof and windproof to protect the wearer.
The same as when skiing or hiking, your employees must protect their extremities when working. Ski gloves and hiking socks may therefore be part of their cold weather gear to keep warm at work.
How do you choose the right cold weather equipment for the workplace?
If an employer thinks that their employees are likely to be exposed to extreme cold, it is up to them to choose suitable work clothing for each individual. This will mean equipment suited to both men and women, as well as accessories and work shoes.
Cold weather equipment that complies with European standards
European standards help employers to choose cold weather equipment for work. The EN 14058 standard (jacket, suit, trousers, parka, etc.) is recommended for protection against moderate cold.
Clothing that meets the EN 342 standard provides protection against extreme cold.
For gloves and safety shoes, the standards are different: EN 511 for gloves and EN 20 345 for safety shoes.
Men and women’s cold-resistant workwear
Protective work clothing must be selected based on temperature and the degree of coldness to which workers will be exposed. The cold causes a drop in body temperature. However, some work activities involve moving regularly from a cold to a warm area during the working day. If this is the case, special care should be taken, as moving around can reduce the thermal protection of the equipment. You will need to select clothing that is really suited to the cold weather and to the employees’ tasks.
In winter or when working in a cold room, it is advisable to wear several layers of cold weather clothing. Teams then have better thermal protection because the cold air cannot get in. Suits and other “all-in-one” work clothes can also be a good solution: They prevent air from circulating, thus keeping the wearer warm.
Another important point is that the clothing size must always fit the wearer perfectly, again, to prevent cold air from circulating. This means female employees must be given equipment that fits their body shape and not clothing designed for male employees, which is often too big.
The good news is that the range of work clothing designed to combat the cold is growing every year. Jackets, parkas, overalls, trousers and overtrousers are increasingly effective. Employees are now better protected from the cold and are less likely to suffer health issues.
Protective footwear and accessories for very cold weather
The protection of workers against the cold does not end with simply wearing the right clothing. It also means wearing suitable footwear. Safety shoes offer excellent protection against impact. Safety boots enable you to keep your feet warm, even in winter and when temperatures drop. Some are made with CI insulating soles. This additional standard certifies that the safety boots and shoes are insulating. This footwear provides perfect insulation down to -10 °C, protecting its wearer against the cold.
In addition to clothing and footwear, it is also advisable to wear accessories for protection against the extreme cold. If you are exposed to the cold, you must protect your head, face, neck, hands, and eyes. Wearing a hat or a balaclava is particularly recommended for workers. Combining comfort and safety, thermal protection gloves that comply with the EN 511 standard are also indispensable and protect employees from the cold and damp during their tasks. Finally, giving workers goggles guarantees your teams are better protected.
To provide a safe working environment for your employees even in very cold weather, see our “Workplace Accessories” for our range of products.