Winter weather can add to the existing hazards one faces when working on construction. When there is a risk of snow and ice or even blustery winds, you need to take the proper precautions to help ensure the safety of your crew at the job site.

Strong winds, snow, and ice increase the risk of falls, so make sure the crew wears boots with good traction. Frostbite is also a risk, so make sure your team knows to bundle up and recommend insulated boots.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that construction workers wear at least three layers of loose clothing to stay warm. When workers must drive in wintry conditions, they need to be familiar with proper winter maintenance for vehicles. They should also know how to drive safely in inclement weather conditions.

For those working outdoors, cold stress is a serious threat. That is when the body gets too cold then cannot warm itself up. That is a condition that requires immediate attention.

Every worker must be prepared for working in cold weather, and every employer must take preparing their employees for such weather seriously.

Be sure you and/or the team check the weather forecast and stay current on the latest weather patterns, so you can be prepared for anything that heads toward the job site.

Have an emergency kit readily available on the job site, so workers can get warmed up and get the care and attention that they need should an emergency arise.

If you work construction, you know that the cold temperatures can wreak havoc on your body. You need to make sure you have the right winter gear to keep you warm during those colder months. If you work in construction, here are some of the basic items you need to have in your closet:

• Insulated boots
• Sweatshirts
• Hoodies
• Thermal underwear
• Work jackets
• Base layer clothing
• Work pants
• Insulate gloves
• Work shirts
• Hard hat liners
• Beanies
• Insulated socks
• Hand warmers
• Footwarmers
• Coat

You should also have waterproof boots and a rain jacket. During the winter months, you may work in snow and ice, so you want to make sure you are prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws your way. Always take along a change of clothing in case you get wet while on the job because you don’t want to get wet and stay out in the cold temperatures.

You should know how to properly layer clothing, so you can make sure you are warm in the extremely cold temperatures, but also have the flexibility of taking off layers as you warm up during the workday. It is important for anyone who operates heavy machinery, or who does any kind of construction work or works in an agricultural role, to have the proper clothing and gear for all seasons.

Winter Gear Gift Ideas

If you have someone on your holiday gift-buying list who has a job that sends them outdoors frequently, you may want to consider buying them some winter gear because that is a gift that will serve them well for a long time to come and it can help them stay warm and healthy.

There are many high-quality manufacturers of winter gear for those who work outdoors, and they are available at many different stores and online. Some of the leading brands include North Face, Duluth Trading Company, Carhartt, Lincoln Outfitters,  Rocky, C.E. Schmidt, Berne, and Scully.