Working in the Cold
The New York State Department of Labor advises workers and employers to engage in extreme cold weather best practices:
- Limit outdoor work, provide frequent breaks in warm areas and schedule outdoor work during the warmest times of the day.
- Ensure access to clean drinking water.
- Stay hydrated with warm beverages and avoid drinking caffeine.
Avoid touching cold metal surfaces with bare skin.
More information on working in cold weather can be found here.
What to Wear
When working outdoors, make sure to wear several layers of loose clothing for better insulation. Including:
- Proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
- At least three layers of clothing, gloves or mittens, and thick socks.
- Boots that are waterproof and insulated.
- A hat, hood or hard hat liner to help reduce body heat escaping from your head.
Additional Resources
Extreme Weather Guidance: The NYS Department of Labor's webpage on extreme weather guidance to protect Outdoor Workers.
Protecting Workers from Cold Stress: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)'s quick card.
Signs & Symptoms of Common Cold-Related Illnesses: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) webpage on cold-related illnesses that may impact workers including hypothermia, frostbite, trench foot, and chilblains.
CDC Preventing Cold-related Illness, Injury & Death among Workers: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) publication on preventing cold-related illnesses amongst outdoor workers.
Winter Weather - Cold Stress Tips: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) winter weather safety tips.
Protecting Yourself from Cold Stress: Center for Disease Control (CDC) fast facts sheet.
Cold Weather Tips: The NYS Department of Health's webpage on cold weather health and safety tips.