For workplaces in northern climates, cold-weather hazards are par for the course. When fall turns to winter, almost no one is surprised when snow and ice make driving treacherous. Safety professionals in these regions are typically well-versed in the mitigating steps they can take to prevent slips and trips caused by slush and ice. They also likely have a trove of toolbox talks about the effects of cold stress, and a stash of weather-appropriate tires to put on work vehicles as the temperatures plummet. The same cannot always be said for workplaces located in more southern regions.
Many warmer regions rarely experience the effects of winter weather, so they are often unprepared when a sudden cold snap or blizzard arrives. This can lead to all sorts of problems, and it dramatically raises the threat of injuries and production slowdowns. And because winter weather is becoming both more extreme and less predictable for everyone, it’s increasingly important for EHS professionals all across North America to be prepared to deal with sudden bursts of winter weather.
Worksites that don’t often have cold-weather episodes can still stock up on supplies like road salt, snow-clearing tools like shovels, and housekeeping items like extra mops to deal with slush that gets tracked indoors. A far bigger challenge is managing the human element.
Many safety professionals talk a lot about complacency, and rightly so—when workers become overly familiar with a task, their risk perception is often skewed and they can come to view themselves as safer than they actually are. The same is true of inexperience, as a lack of familiarity with tasks can also cause people to overlook very real hazards that could lead to an injury. When it comes to cold-weather events in warmer regions, a lack of experience can leave workers at a much greater risk of winter-related incidents.
Thankfully, there are several proactive strategies that safety and operations professionals can take to prepare their workforce for the sudden arrival of a rare winter storm, no matter where they’re located.
Prepare early
No one can determine with absolute certainty when a snow squall will arrive months ahead of time. And once a meteorologist says that a storm is imminent, it’s often too late to get ready. This is why it can be beneficial to talk about cold-weather safety well before a storm appears on the radar.
Because workers can sometimes be resistant to talking about ice and frost when temperatures are well above freezing, it can often be useful to discuss winter hazards in terms of emergency preparedness. That way, if a cold spell arrives, workers will already have some familiarity with the safety issues at hand.
Safety and operations departments can also get ahead of surprise hazards by preparing winter-themed safety conversations, toolbox talks and other measures in advance. That way they’re ready to deploy them at a moment’s notice. EHS and ops folks should also review best practices for winter emergency preparation to ensure they’re ready for anything.
Watch the weather
Safety and operations managers already have a lot of tasks in their job description, but they might want to add amateur weatherperson to the list. While winter storms in warm climates are difficult to predict, it’s important to stay on top of the forecast and be aware of watches and warnings.
Many folks are already in the habit of watching temperatures during the summer months so that they can monitor the risks of heat stress. It’s also worth keeping an eye on the weather during the winter months too, in case a cold stretch suddenly appears in the forecast.
Operations and safety leaders can set up frequent reminders or alerts—in their calendar, email, or day planner—to prompt them to check the weather on a regular basis throughout the winter. By using scheduling tools instead of relying solely on memory, they counteract the natural complacency that might cause them to miss important forecast updates.
Monitor human factors
When snow and ice unexpectedly arrive, they bring with them a flurry of human factors. From overconfidence to panic, from rushing to frustration—people are subject to a range of mental and physical states when they are confronted with unfamiliar environmental conditions. After all, unexpected winter conditions present enough risk on their own, and they become even more dangerous when human factors are left unchecked.
Frontline organizational leaders such as crew leads, operations managers and EHS folks should be prepared to deal with these human factors as they arise. Providing a calm, reassuring presence and a clear action plan to deal with winter hazards can go a long way in assuaging fears and concerns. And one-on-one conversations paired with team discussions can also mitigate the chances of human factors putting employees at risk. Of course, this is much easier to do when workers already have a good understanding of human factors, so consider human factors management training a key part of winter storm preparedness.
Winter is coming
The sudden arrival of ice and snow can come as shock for people in regions that rarely experience polar vortexes and other winter weather. They can also cause a number of safety and operational issues in the workplace. Fortunately, organizational leaders have several ways to prepare themselves to deal with the physical effects of a cold snap, as well as the human-factors challenges caused by the freezing temperatures.
There’s no predicting what the weather will do throughout the winter months. That’s why getting ready for everything—from flash freezing to prolonged snowstorms—can help you navigate your employees through whatever winter has in store.