Construction crews are expected to show up for work each day in almost all kinds of weather. While intense rain or dangerous storms may warrant a day off, frigid weather seldom does. Construction workers are generally expected to push through brisk winds and chilly temperatures, which can make the worksite a harsh place to be once winter descends.
Contractors can take measures to mitigate these unwelcome conditions, promoting worker safety while also letting them know that their wellbeing matters. One of the most effective ways to support crews during the cold season is to provide adequate heating in outdoor break spaces, ensuring relative comfort and safety even during meals or moments of downtime.
CREATE AN ENCLOSED BREAK AREA
First and foremost, in order to encourage crew members to take adequate breaks and to prioritize their own health and safety, contractors need to create welcoming break areas. This generally means using a tent or fabric structure to create an enclosed area where workers can sit and relax, without having to worry about the stinging wind. Mobile structures, including trailers, may also be an option.
The best construction break areas will include seating, water and hot beverages, as well as heating units to keep the ambient temperature under control.
INVEST IN UNIT HEATERS
Speaking of heaters, easy-to-install heating units are critical investments in the winter wellbeing of a construction crew.
Bear in mind that a major temperature drop can have a disastrous effect on productivity. As the weather gets cold, construction crews feel it and, even when dressed appropriately, they face a heightened risk of getting sick. Sick workers mean fewer workers, which means a slowdown in productivity and increase in potential medical costs.
That’s to say nothing of overall morale, which is essential for keeping workers energetic, productive and focused. Demonstrating a commitment to team comfort and safety is invaluable for promoting goodwill among team members, and every little bit helps when it comes to soldiering through the long days of winter.
What should contractors look for in their jobsite heating units? There are several factors to consider—including size and portability, safety and ease of setup. Infrared heating units often prove best, ensuring instantaneous, directional heat by way of a high-intensity, low-light bulb. These units are easy to install with just a bracket or two, and can plug into standard electrical outlets. The front-end installation work makes them more durable solutions than many of the more portable heaters on the market today, and they are especially well-suited for trailers.
A good unit heater can go a long way toward keeping crews safe and warm, but it may also help to provide a few heated blankets or vests for use by workers who have been exposed to the elements for a longer period of time, are especially prone to cold weather stress or who may not have ready access to the larger jobsite heating unit.
PROVIDE A COMMUNAL HYDRATION STATION
Hydration and nutrition are essential for construction crews, especially when exposed to extreme temperatures. Make no mistake: Crew members can just as easily become dehydrated during winter weather as they can in the grueling summer heat—even more so, as an absence of sweat provides the illusion of feeling more hydrated than you actually are.
To encourage ongoing hydration, setting up a shared drink station in your enclosed break area is key. Consider offering not just the typical cool water and coffee but also some warm beverage options, such as herbal teas, which can provide warmth and hydration simultaneously.
KEEP CREW MEMBERS INFORMED
The outdoor break area may also be a good place to affix some signage or share some informational materials, reminding crew members about some of the unique risks of working in cold weather—and providing guidance about how to remain safe.
One way to educate workers is to provide information about the signs of cold weather stress, encouraging them to monitor their own wellbeing while also looking out for one another. Examples of cold weather stress symptoms include shivering, shallow breath, diminished coordination and frostbite.
Educational materials can also promote preventative measures such as adequate layering as well as light stretching exercises, which may help workers to avoid stiffness and soreness during their shift as well as help keep up core body temperature. If space allows, consider setting aside a stretching or exercise zone in the enclosed break area itself.
THINK BEYOND BREAK AREAS
For contractors and their crews, winter preparedness doesn’t stop with outdoor break areas. Also think about your crew’s home base, where crew members may spend quite a bit of time in the mornings loading up supplies, gathering materials and getting ready for long days on the jobsite.
Here, too, it may be important to provide some heating options, such as easy-to-install infrared heaters to keep team members warm while they accomplish outdoor tasks.
Working on a construction site is physically taxing, even under the best of circumstances. When freezing weather rolls in, the physical toll becomes even more pronounced. Thankfully, contractors have numerous options for creating safe and warm spaces, helping to preserve the health and productivity of their crew members.
SEE ALSO: WINTERIZE YOUR WORKSITES FOR OPTIMAL SAFETY AND PRODUCTIVITY
