![]() ![]() Working in cold weather is unpleasant for most people but in some cases, it can lead to serious injuries and life-threatening conditions. What are the dangers of working during cold weather? In other words, while non-emergency work may continue up to -44 without a wind chill, with a wind chill, non-emergency work should cease at -25 to -29. In addition, as the temperature drops and the wind increases, the threshold for continuing non-emergency work is altered accordingly. In short, the lower the temperature and higher the wind chill factor, the shorter the work period and more frequent the breaks required to keep work moving safely. The Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety defines the wind chill temperature as follows: “a measurement of a heat loss rate caused by exposure to wind and it is expressed as the rate of energy loss per unit area of exposed skin per second (e.g., joules/ or watts/metre 2, W/m 2).” When it comes to working outdoors in cold conditions, the wind chill temperature is important because it drastically changes the length of time that it is considered safe for workers to remain outdoors. ![]() While temperature is a relatively straight forward concept, wind chill (in some regions of North American, this is known as the “wind chill factor”) is a measurement that is meant to reflect what the air temperature feels like against the skin under different conditions. Indeed, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration have both adopted a “work warm-up schedule” (originally developed north of the border by the Saskatchewan Board of Labour) as Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for cold stress.Īs outlined below, the threshold limit values are based on two factors: temperature and wind chill. However, despite the extreme tolerance many Canadians appear to have for the cold, the nation has come up with guidelines to regulate outdoor work during the winter months and many of these guidelines have also been adopted in the US.Īccording to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety, “In Canada, there are no maximum exposure limits for cold working environments.” Somewhat surprisingly, the same holds true in the US, but on both sides of the border, there are guidelines regulating under what conditions and for how long work can be carried out during extremely cold conditions. North of the border, children also typically spend their recesses and lunch breaks playing in subzero temperatures. By contrast, only six hours north in Montreal, Canada children typically wait outside for the bell to ring even in -35 degree whether. In New York City, schools open their doors early on mornings when the temperature dips below +32 so children aren’t left waiting outside in the cold. In many respects, cold is a matter of perspective. It is also important to monitor workers’ physical condition during tasks, especially new workers who may not be used to working in the cold or workers returning after spending some time away from work.” This article answers three key questions: How cold is too cold for work? What are the dangers of working during cold weather? And finally, what steps can employers take to protect workers during the winter months? As the US Department of Labor clearly states, “It is important for employers to know the wind chill temperature so that they can gauge workers’ exposure risk better and plan how to safely do the work. Keeping workers safe during sub-zero conditions is challenging, but there are steps that employers can take to ensure that plummeting temperatures don’t lead to a freeze in production and, more importantly, don’t result in a workplace violation. While temperatures are still moderate in most locations across the United States, by mid-November, temperatures in many northern states will be well below the freezing mark. ![]()
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