With fall comes cold weather and harsh work conditions, so it is important to prepare for hidden safety hazards on job sites. Risks of cold-related injuries and illnesses include hypothermia, frostbite and dehydration, which can all lead to lasting adverse health effects. Ice and snow can also present slip and fall risks.
Cold weather also brings an elevated risk of construction jobsite fires due to a high number of on-site heaters to keep workers warm.
Dehydration is a hidden risk on job sites, caused by sweat evaporating in dry air and workers drinking less water when it is cold out.
Before work begins on a jobsite, precautions should be taken to ensure a safe work environment, including removing snow and ice, salting walkways and roadways, staying aware of weather forecasts for each workday and training workers on how to detect symptoms of cold stress, as well as limiting exposure to dangerous cold conditions when possible.
