How Construction Workers Can Stay Safe in Frigid Conditions

With much of the U.S. recently experiencing frigid temperatures, it’s important for construction workers to consider ways in which they can stay safe while at work. According to Construction Dive, there are a number of dangers for workers in cold conditions, with some experts warning that cold stress and hypothermia can set in before workers notice severe symptoms. Additionally, frigid conditions can impair judgment, leading workers to take risky shortcuts to seek warmth faster. Similar to working in extreme heat, cold conditions require careful weather monitoring, updated safety plans for how to work in cold climates, and adequate safety training for workers.

OSHA does not have a specific standard for cold weather safety, though it does have multiple resource pages to assist employers. It isn’t exactly clear how many injuries or fatalities are caused by extreme cold, [director of research to practice for the Center for Construction Research and Training Jessica] Bunting said, as most data merely classifies incidents as temperature-related. That said, it may be safe to assume heat causes more of those injuries, as work is more likely to continue in heat than in freezing cold. Read more