Keeping Your Construction Crew Safe in Winter Weather

Winter can be a dangerous time of the year – especially when you work outside like many construction workers. However, with the right preparation and training, your construction crew can stay safe and productive in the winter.

Conversations about safety on the job, especially in winter, begin at the very early planning stages. In this article for Constructionpros.com, Paul Rozich, director of safety and risk management, Rockford Construction, Grand Rapids, MI, says one of the first steps they take in winter weather planning is reviewing potential risks at the worksite.

“As a team, we put together a plan to manage winter conditions and there are a lot of items that go into that, including snow removal, walking working surfaces, ice, heat, temporary heat, break areas, access, egress,” he says. “There are a lot of considerations that take place when working in winter conditions and a lot of planning to prepare for that.”

Some things constructions sites can do to keep their crew safe this winter include,

• Scheduling frequent, short breaks throughout the day to give workers a chance to warm up and consume hot drinks, if possible.
• Encouraging workers to use a buddy system or work in pairs, which allows workers to help each other when needed.
• Clearing snow and ice from walkways, roadways, handrails and other work surfaces to prevent trips and falls. If this is not possible, employers can train employees to walk on snow by taking short steps (like a penguin) and walking at a slow pace. Workers should also be reminded of the importance of proper footwear with a good grip.
• Use radiant heaters and/or shield work areas from wind to help keep workers warm.
• Avoid scheduling work on rooftops or other elevated surfaces after a snowfall and make sure ladders are clear of ice and snow and securely in place.
• In addition to proper footwear, educate workers on the importance of dressing in layers, wearing layers of loose-fitting clothing.
• Workers should wear hard hats from falling objects and head injuries if they slip and fall. In the winter, the addition of liners can help trap heat and keep them warm.

Here are more of Rozich’s tips:

• Layer clothing
• Wear a mask over your face
• Use a hat that will fit under your hard hat and cover the ears
• Wear insulated, water-resistant clothes
• Use an insulated parka over the work clothes

However, even with the best planning and preparation, winter weather can still delay construction projects.  At Rockford, they find ways to adapt to weather delays to maintain those two goals.

“There are ways to make up time within a project schedule, but to jeopardize the safety of workers to meet the schedule within unsafe conditions is unacceptable,” Rozich says. “We have procedures in place to identify when and if a project finish time might be impacted due to cold weather conditions or other unforeseen conditions. That allows us to manage at a high level where we can look at opportunities to keep the schedule maintained. However, we would never jeopardize the safety and well-being of our employees.”

Work might move indoors, or the project might be suspended for the day if weather conditions are too extreme. Portions of a project, such as tasks on elevated surfaces such as scaffolding, might stop for the day.

“It depends on the wind speeds for the day and things like that,” he says. “We look at the specific tasks that need to be done. We may not have to shut down the entire project for the day, just the projects that are outside. If conditions are extreme, we might shut down that particular site.”

Make sure to monitor the weather every day. Once the weather forecast has been reviewed for the day, supervisors and workers should inspect the site for snow and ice, wind debris, icicles and other roof hazards and the safety of walking surfaces. Doing so is one of the most effective ways to prevent cold-weather work injuries, according to many safety organizations.

It's also important to ensure your corporate liability coverage is sufficient to deal with any claims or awards that arise from on-site accidents. OTC Insurance Brokers offers a free insurance assessment to help determine if you have the best coverage at the best price. To learn more, get in touch with us today.

Sources

 https://www.forconstructionpros.com/business/construction-safety/article/21111391/keeping-crews-safe-in-winter-weather-plan-early-often
https://www.degemmill.com/winter-safety-tips-construction/