--- title: "Working in Cold Weather" description: "As we continue to cope with a winter of extremes, both in terms of cold temperatures and excessive water and flooding in some areas, it’s important to consider the additional preventative measures that need to be put in place both indoors and out. During the winter months, worki..." canonical: "https://www.safety-management.co.uk/news/working-in-cold-weather" type: "Article" publishedAt: "2023-01-31T12:12:25" modifiedAt: "2023-01-31T12:13:29" keywords: "Uncategorised" --- # Working in Cold Weather As we continue to cope with a winter of extremes, both in terms of cold temperatures and excessive water and flooding in some areas, it’s important to consider the additional preventative measures that need to be put in place both indoors and out. During the winter months, worki... Canonical URL: https://www.safety-management.co.uk/news/working-in-cold-weather ## Article As we continue to cope with a winter of extremes, both in terms of cold temperatures and excessive water and flooding in some areas, it’s important to consider the additional preventative measures that need to be put in place both indoors and out. During the winter months, working indoors or outside, day or night, can expose employees to below freezing temperatures, as we have seen recently in parts of the UK. It is important to identify those workers who need more protection and who will be most at risk. Hands and feet in particular, can become cold and painful, and in extreme cases lead to frostbite. In addition, a lowering of the body temperature can cause issues with concentration, and tiredness and lead to an increased risk of accidents happening. Workers suffering from breathing and heart or circulation problems are likely to be more sensitive to cold weather working. Those working outdoors also have to deal with the wind chill factor and wet conditions, on top of the low temperatures. The HSE states that the minimum temperature for an indoor workplace is at least 160C or 130c if the majority of work involves rigorous physical effort. Measures to put in place: - Provide adequate heating, including portable heaters - Provide enough breaks in warm areas and access to warm drinks - Design processes that minimise exposure to cold areas and products - Reduce draughts - Provide insulating floor coverings or special footwear where necessary - Provide adequate protective clothing for cold environments During the winter months with less daylight hours and often darker days in general, added to the increased wet and cold, surfaces can become hazardous. Fallen leaves on paths and walkways become wet and slippy, and snow or ice can build up. Things to consider and check: - Ensure you have adequate lighting at entrances and in outdoor areas - Remove leaves at regular intervals - Use slip-resistant paving on pathways - Add canopies over entrances or use absorbent mats or non-slip flooring - Keep an eye on weather conditions so as to be prepared in advance - Use grit as a preventative measure and cordon off high risk areas Our team are happy to provide the latest guidelines and support to ensure your facility is risk-free whatever the weather. ## Related guidance - [Practical Health & Safety Support: Knowing Where to Start and What to Do Next](/news/practical-health-safety-support-knowing-where-to-start-and-what-to-do-next): Managing health and safety can feel straightforward when everything is running smoothly. Policies have been written, risk assessments have been completed, and there have been no recent incidents. However, many organisations reach a point where they begin to ask more fundamental... - [Why Retained Health & Safety Support Gives Leaders Greater Confidence](/news/why-retained-health-safety-support-gives-leaders-greater-confidence): For senior operations, health and safety and facilities leaders, the challenge is rarely a lack of documentation. Most organisations already have policies, risk assessments and procedures in place, and many have competent people responsible for maintaining them. The more difficu... - [How Workplace Safety Audits Help You Focus on What Actually Matters](/news/how-workplace-safety-audits-help-you-focus-on-what-actually-matters): A workplace safety audit is often associated with compliance, paperwork and preparing for inspections. While these are all important aspects of health and safety management, they are not the primary reason for carrying out an audit. The real value of a workplace safety audit UK... - [What Should You Do After a Near Miss in the Workplace? A Practical Guide for Businesses](/news/what-should-you-do-after-a-near-miss-in-the-workplace-a-practical-guide-for-businesses): A near miss in the workplace is an incident that had the potential to cause injury, ill health, damage to property or interruption to business operations but, fortunately, did not result in harm. While it may be tempting to regard these incidents as isolated events because no on... ## Explore local coverage - [Explore local coverage](/locations): Browse support across regions, towns, services and sectors. - [Health & Safety Consultancy in Bedfordshire](/services/health-safety/bedfordshire): Health & Safety Consultancy coverage linked to Bedfordshire businesses and surrounding towns. - [Manufacturing support in Bedfordshire](/sectors/manufacturing/bedfordshire): Manufacturing guidance connected to Bedfordshire operations and site risk. - [Health & Safety Consultancy in Bedford](/services/health-safety/bedfordshire/bedford): Health & Safety Consultancy support for Bedford and nearby areas including Luton, Dunstable.