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It’s good to review the basics of how to stay warm when working outdoors in winter. Construction workers are exposed to extreme weather when on-site over the winter months. This will help to keep your staff safe and reduce sick days.
If you’re not wearing the relevant clothing when working in the cold you are exposed to all kinds of conditions; arthritis, joint pain, cold sores and windburn are all causes of prolonged exposure to the cold. In serious cases, you may also be at risk of frostbite, hypothermia and even heart attacks.
Here are some construction workers stay warm on a building site during the winter.
Thermally insulated coveralls are the best choice for winter work. They cover nearly all exposed skin on your body, including arms and legs, but are comfortable enough to allow you to move freely. Often, we’ll get them a little bit oversized, so we can put some layers underneath. Layering is great because if you do get overheated, you can take a layer off to cool down without exposing too much skin.
Some wonderful helmet liners work well under a hard hat. These typically fasten under the chin, so they protect your head, ears, and part of your neck. You can also wear face masks and wrap-around eye protection to hold in body heat, and a scarf is a good option for protecting the rest of the neck and is easily removable if you get hot. It’s just important to avoid dangling ends that could get caught in equipment.
It’s tricky to pick just the right gloves for construction work. They need to be heavy and durable, but with the right fabric and texture to allow you to remain dexterous.
The most important thing here is to have waterproof, insulated boots so no moisture seeps in; once that happens no amount of layers will keep your feet warm. However, they also need to be breathable, so your perspiration can get out. Wear insulated or thermal socks, you can even double up on layers.
Movement generates heat, so the most important thing in staying warm on a cold worksite is to keep moving. This is also why layering becomes important. You will sweat as you work, and that sweat could make you cold, so the more layers you have on, the easier it is to stay dry. If you think you’ll be working up a lot of sweat, it’s a good idea to bring a change of clothes.
If your workspace is covered with ice the likelihood of an accident is pretty high from the result of a slip or trip. When de-icing your area, make sure you are doing it the right way; use rock salt or grit to thaw any snow or ice and cover with sand to stop the floor from becoming slippery. Retain from using hot or warm water as it will soon freeze over and create an unsafe surface.
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