Guard against cold weather workplace challenges
- Enhance workplace seasonal safety by implementing cold-weather protocols for outdoor and indoor environments, reducing risks like slips, falls and temperature-related injuries.
- Address mental health impacts, like seasonal affective disorder, to maintain productivity and support employee well-being through winter.
- Equip clients with targeted insurance coverage, including workers’ compensation, to address unique fall and winter hazards effectively.
Many welcome the transition from the heat of summer to cooler fall and winter weather, especially outdoor workers. However, with seasonal changes, workplace risks evolve, creating unique challenges for your clients and their employees. By advising them on seasonal best practices and confirming their insurance coverage is suited to these hazards, you, too, play a crucial role in safeguarding employee well-being and productivity. So, let’s explore some potential seasonal risks and practical tips to help your clients mitigate them, ensuring ongoing productivity and compliance with on-site safety protocols.
Common workplace risks during seasonal changes
Construction teams and outdoor laborers are often at risk of weather-related injuries and fatalities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 22 fatal workplace injuries from ice, snow and sleet. Many injuries and fatalities result from slips and falls on wet or icy surfaces and wet, fallen leaf debris. In fact, 19.9% of all reported workplace injuries were related to slips, trip or falls. Other times, weather-related injuries and fatalities could be related to frostbite and hypothermia, dehydration from strenuous activity, electric shocks or being struck by falling objects.
Related: How to prevent workplace slips, trips and falls
Indoor workers may suffer similar fall-related injuries due to wet floors and poor lighting, while inadequate heating and air quality can cause employees to become sick or suffer from allergies.
Moreover, seasonal changes can significantly impact the mental health of both indoor and outdoor workers. About 5% of Americans experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression that typically peaks in winter and can last through 40% of the year. Experts usually associate SAD with how the brain responds to reduced sunlight and daytime hours, which can further affect people’s circadian rhythms. Unfortunately, SAD can impact employee engagement and productivity, lower their energy, cause difficulty concentrating and worsen fatigue. This could be especially dangerous for equipment operators or those responsible for other risky tasks, and for your clients, it could mean costly workers’ compensation claims.
Worksite safety strategies for fall and winter
Fortunately, there are several approaches your clients can take to protect workers from physical hazards and poor mental health this fall and winter. Here are different strategies to address indoor and outdoor workplace challenges throughout the season.
Outdoor safety
Outdoor laborers face significant risks during the summer months, including serious conditions like heat stroke, which occurs when body temperature reaches 103 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as heat exhaustion, cramps and rashes. Even as work slows down with the arrival of cooler weather, these workers remain vulnerable to the elements.
Despite brisk air temperatures, sun exposure can still impact workers, especially those without access to shaded areas. This risk is compounded in locations that experience significant temperature fluctuations — some up to 30 degrees — throughout the day, particularly during the transition from summer to fall. To address these changing conditions, encourage workers to dress in layers, allowing them to adjust their clothing as needed throughout their shift.
Other ways employers can improve outdoor safety for employees include:
- Providing a shady rest area for workers to take a break and get away from the sun, rain or snow.
- Encouraging workers to wear sunscreen.
- Implementing snow removal procedures after wintery weather.
- Utilizing sand, salt and anti-slip mats to avoid falling on ice or wet surfaces.
- Requiring proper footwear with excellent traction and warmth.
- Identifying the correct tools and equipment for workers to handle downed power lines and electricity, preventing interactions with wet conditions.
- Providing protocols for removing downed trees and other debris safely from the worksite.
Having workers warm up with light exercise is also a good idea, especially in cold weather. Exercises might include moving in place or practicing lifting heavier objects gradually to avoid back, neck and shoulder injuries.
Indoor safety
Safety is crucial for those who work inside, too. To protect employees, tell your clients to place orange cones to point out wet surfaces. Likewise, carpeting should remain clean and dry to avoid mold growth.
Because daylight is shorter in the fall and winter, business owners will want to ensure they’re providing adequate indoor lighting. Encourage them to swap out incandescent bulbs for light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. LED bulbs produce 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs, helping businesses save money. They’re also safer because they’re cooler than conventional light bulbs.
Having HVAC systems maintained for the fall and winter seasons will also improve energy efficiency, air quality and indoor comfort for employees. With proper heating, employees are less likely to fall ill with winter colds. However, it’s also a good idea to supply hand sanitizer and tissues as an extra precaution.
Training and awareness
Enhancing workplace training and awareness helps employees look for hazards and protect themselves. In fact, 38% of construction site fatalities occur because of a lack of safety education and resources. You can add value by advising clients to implement the following:
- Training programs: Conducting safety drills, issuing online training modules and hosting regular safety discussions and meetings with employees.
- Updated Protocols: Review company safety protocols with your clients and encourage them to make updates as necessary, including for seasonal weather.
- Safety apps and tools: Leverage weather apps and other technology for workers to report safety concerns and incidents at the worksite.
- Signage: Remind your clients to hang signs throughout the workplace, including hazard warnings and safety-related infographics.
Requesting feedback from employees is important for ensuring comprehensive safety measures. Employees can offer valuable perspectives and insights regarding the specific challenges they face during the fall and winter months. Be sure to consider their input when updating workplace safety procedures.
Supporting employee well-being with the change of seasons
Poor mental health could have severe implications for employees’ ability to do their work safely and efficiently. Thus, it’s critical to be aware of the signs of SAD among teams and provide programs and services to improve their mental well-being.
Offering flexible work schedules is an effective way to help employees manage seasonal changes. Your clients could consider implementing remote or hybrid arrangements for indoor employees to reduce the risk of spreading winter germs in the workplace, keeping employees healthier and more productive.
Respecting work-life balance is also crucial for employee health. A 2022 study found that employees who reported a one-point increase in work-life balance were 77% more likely to report better overall health. Furthermore, these employees had a 32% lower likelihood of being diagnosed with a chronic condition.
Therefore, encourage your clients to foster a workplace culture that prioritizes open communication about mental health. Addressing mental health and physical safety isn’t just good practice — it’s part of a proactive approach to workplace risk management that includes comprehensive workers’ compensation and liability insurance.
Related: How employers can help manage workplace stress
Overcome seasonal workplace challenges seamlessly
As seasons transition from summer to fall and winter, workplace safety, health and job performance require renewed focus. Protecting workers from the elements and creating an ideal indoor environment become crucial. Prioritizing employees’ physical and mental well-being is essential for maintaining a safe and productive workplace. Simultaneously, ensuring your clients’ insurance coverage is up-to-date and tailored to their workforce’s specific needs helps mitigate the financial impact of potential injuries and illnesses caused by fall and winter conditions. This comprehensive approach addresses both immediate safety concerns and long-term risk management.