Safety Tips for Construction Workers in Cold Weather

For most of us, winter means hot chocolate, days off work, and building snowmen with our loved ones. However, for many construction workers, winter often brings compromised safety conditions. These conditions create higher risks for experiencing an injury or fatality on the job. Since construction workers often work outside, freezing temperatures may also contribute to health problems.

Construction workers experience slip and falls more often than those working in other professions. However, these employees have an even higher chance of being injured on the job during colder months. The following safety tips can help you avoid experiencing an injury on a construction site.

Hypothermia and Frostbite Prevention

For construction workers, being outside is just part of the job description. However, spending extensive periods of time in the cold may lead to hypothermia or frostbite. It is important for construction workers to be aware of the signs and symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite. Awareness of the symptoms will ultimately keep employees safe.

According to Mayo Clinic, symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite include:

• Shivering
• Lack of coordination
• Slurred speech
• Drowsiness
• Slow breathing
• Confusion
• Discolored skin
• Joint and muscle stiffness

If you or a fellow employee begins experiencing these symptoms, it is important to have a safety plan. This plan may include alerting a manager of someone’s symptoms, wrapping yourself and others in blankets, and changing clothes, if necessary. Every site should be equipped with a space heater, warm blankets, dry clothes, and a warm space to take breaks.

The Importance of Communication

During bouts of cold weather, it is important to have an accountability system to ensure the safety of all employees. To accomplish this, have weekly meetings discussing upcoming weather reports. This will allow employees to prepare for certain conditions. During these meetings, safety precautions should be discussed. There should also be discussion about the importance of taking warm breaks and establishing a buddy system for employees.

Avoid Slip and Falls

To avoid physical accidents, it is important to examine the construction site. There should be extra precaution to avoid slip and falls. Some of the most important ways to prepare for freezing temperatures is to ensure that the construction site is de-iced. De-icing the site will avoid the potential of someone slipping, which could lead to severe injury. Another important way to prepare the site is to properly remove icicles. Icicles are common during the winter months, however, if they are not properly removed, they may fall and potentially injure an employee. Removing them is an easy way to prevent this from happening.

Philadelphia Construction Accident Lawyers at DiTomaso Law Fight for Construction Workers Hurt on the Job

If you or someone you know has experienced an injury on a construction site, please consider contacting a Philadelphia construction accident lawyer at DiTomaso Law. Construction accidents can lead to expensive medical bills, loss of wages, and pain and suffering. Our lawyers are equipped with tools that help our clients obtain the compensation they deserve. Contact us online for a free consultation or call us at 215-426-4493. Located in Philadelphia, we proudly serve clients throughout southern Pennsylvania.