Outdoor workers are susceptible to frostbite and cold stress in the winter. Learn how companies can protect their crews from ice, snow and frigid temperatures.
Employers have a responsibility to make sure their workers have access to warm, insulating winter gear when working outdoors in the winter or cold environments.
With winter evidently nowhere near being over in much of the United States, winter hazards – like slippery roads and surfaces --remain a concern. OSHA offers tips for employers on how to control hazards at workplaces impacted by winter weather.
Frostbite is an injury caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. First your skin becomes very cold and red, then numb, hard and pale. Frostbite is most common on the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin.
With New England coping with blizzard-level snow, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is warning people about electrical hazards that can come with blizzards, such as downed power lines, power outages, and coastal flooding.
With much of the nation in the grip of an arctic blast, many construction sites are shut down. Others, with the aid of new technologies -- like chemical additives that allow concrete to cure in low temperatures – may continue to operate, exposing workers to extreme weather.
While the record snowfalls slamming a large swath of the U.S. are keeping many people indoors, some who work outdoors or whose jobs involve driving do not have that option.
