The First Facility Management Blog

This post comes from the OSHA Advisor.

If you’re wondering if it’s your responsibility to protect employees from the elements, the answer is YES. Under OSHA’s general duty clause, employers must protect employees from hazards in the workplace, including severe weather related exposures (like those associated with both hot and cold temperatures). As January creeps into February, it makes sense to discuss cold temperatures and their effects on your facilities staff—particularly those responsible for tasks that would subject them to the chill of the season.

Tips on how to protect employees include:
• Recognize the environmental and workplace conditions that may be dangerous.

• Learn the signs and symptoms of cold-induced illnesses and injuries and what to do to help employees.

• Train employees about cold-induced illnesses and injuries.

• Encourage employees to wear proper clothing for cold, wet, and windy conditions, including layers that can be adjusted to changing conditions.

• Be sure that employees in extremely cold conditions take frequent, short breaks in warm dry shelters to allow their bodies to warm up.

• Try to schedule work for the warmest part of the day.

• Avoid exhaustion or fatigue because energy is needed to keep muscles warm.

• Use the buddy system: Work in pairs so that one employee can recognize danger signs.

• Drink warm, sweet beverages (sugar water, sports-type drinks) and avoid drinks with caffeine (coffee, tea, sodas or hot chocolate) or alcohol.

• Eat warm, high calorie foods such as hot pasta dishes.

Remember that employees increase their risks when they take certain medications, are in poor physical condition or suffer from illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension or cardiovascular disease.

Most of these recommendations are common sense, but the employer (i.e. supervisors and employees both) must be aware of the hazards and steps to take to combat the cold.

Why not take time during the next few weeks and develop training on cold weather and deliver to your employees? You’ll find it’s time well spent!

For additional assistance with OSHA standards and employee training, check out the OSHA Navigator PRO compliance software.