With fall here, it is important to know the dangers of cold stress and the best ways to stay safe and warm on your jobsites. It is also important to know some hidden dangers of working in the cold weather.

Risks of cold-related injuries and illnesses include hypothermia, frostbite, and dehydration, and can lead to lasting adverse health effects. Ice and snow also can present slip and fall risks.

Before work begins on a jobsite, precautions should be taken to ensure a safe workplace, including removing snow and ice, salting walkways and roadways, staying aware of weather forecasts for each workday and training workers on how to detect symptoms of cold stress and limiting exposure to dangerous cold conditions.

During the work shift, workers can also use space heaters, bring a change of warm clothes to avoid working in damp clothing, and should know the proper emergency response procedures for workers experiencing symptoms of cold stress.

Cold weather also brings an elevated risk of construction jobsite fires. Workers should know how to safely use temporary heating devices both on construction sites and at home.

OSHA requires jobsites using temporary heating devices to have a fire extinguisher available. When using heaters in the vicinity of combustible tarpaulins, canvas, or similar coverings, then the heaters must be located at least 10 feet from the coverings. Gasoline and other flammable liquids must also be stored in safety cans outside or in approved storage facilities.

In the event of an emergency and a fire extinguisher must be used, remember the PASS method (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep).

Another hidden health risk in cold weather work is dehydration. Sweat more easily evaporates in dry air and workers tend to drink less water when it is cold out. This can combine to trigger dehydration, which may lead to dizziness, tiredness, and lack of focus. Make sure to continue providing plenty of drinking water on jobsites.

NAHB, OSHA and the National Weather Service have several resources available to train workers on cold stress and fire prevention including the video toolbox talk on cold stress safety below and: