Winter is already here, and the weather conditions are changing at the speed of light. New York and other Northeastern states experience chilly, slippery, and icy weather conditions. Heavy snowfalls aren’t rare in December. Roads get blocked, happy school kids get days off, and homeowners get an excellent shoveling exercise.
In construction, window cleaning, façade repair, and other businesses that require height access, the work never stops. Since time is money, taking a break is hardly possible. When you are forced to work in winter, you need to prepare for the project in a different manner than you would in other seasons.
Unfortunately, many companies ignore the weather conditions changes and continue working as they usually do. As a result, they risk the welfare of their workers and the integrity of their height access equipment. Let’s discuss the important points of winter height access reassessment.
A Higher Risk Of Slips
As the weather worsens, the surfaces get slippery. Even though the workers carry numerous safety equipment, the increased number of slips and falls can delay the work process even if everyone stays safe in the end.
It’s important to consider the tripping and slipping hazards and teach the workers to react accordingly. The overall speed of the project may be reduced, but not as much as it would with constant slipping.
The Weight Of Snow
Hazardous Conditions
Another thing to consider in the winter is low temperatures. Even though OSHA doesn’t provide a framework for the weather conditions, the Occupational Safety And Health Act (1970) states that employers must protect workers from recognized hazards, including cold stress, which can lead to serious harm.
Overall, it’s up to the employer to care about the workers’ safety in the winter. In the majority of cases, striving to work in bad conditions leads to unsatisfactory results while endangering the employees.
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