HSE Principal Inspector of Construction, Peter Black, has recently been quoted as saying “For those working outdoors, the winter months bring additional challenges to keeping safe. Cold weather and shorter periods of daylight mean there is more potential for accidents to happen. With a little planning, and common sense, these can be avoided.” So what do you need to look out for?

Moving vehicles

These are a major hazard in the construction industry where, in many cases, it is not deemed reasonably practicable to provide vehicle segregation and demarcated walkways. It is therefore vitally important that all staff take responsibility for their actions on dynamic site.

To this end, operators of construction plant such as diggers, telehandlers etc. must ensure they regularly clean their windows so they can safely see all around. This should be combined with constant use of mirrors and a banksman where appropriate. Lights on all vehicles should be cleaned regularly to ensure vehicles are visible at all times, and vehicle depots and marshalling yards should be well lit and gritted to avoid slip and trip hazards.

Workplace transport accidents account for many of the deaths and injuries investigated by the HSE every year. Many of these occur in the winter.

Welfare

In winter it is important to ensure that water supplies do not freeze to ensure adequate drinking water and that any gas heaters provided, have adequate ventilation. Portable chemical toilets should only be used for short duration projects and here appropriate, provision should be made for drying rooms for wet clothing. Hot water for washing is even more important than usual.

Hand Arm Vibration

People who are exposed to vibration from power tools should improve their blood circulation by keeping warm and dry, where necessary wearing gloves, a hat, waterproofs and heating pads if available. Stopping smoking improves blood circulation, as does massaging and exercising fingers during work breaks.

Lone working

Those who have staff carrying out lone working, must always ensure they have a suitable, robust procedure in place to make sure lone workers are safe. In winter this is even more vital. Ask yourselves:

• If a worker fell and broke a leg in a remote location in the dark, how would they summon help?
• Who would be responsible for ensuring they had returned home safely at the end of the day?

Recent cases, including the tragic death of a gamekeeper, have highlighted the vital importance of ensuring lone workers are protected and have the communications they need during winter months.

Chilblains

A painful and debilitating injury, chilblains are caused by the repeated exposure of skin to temperatures just above freezing. The cold exposure causes damage to the capillary beds (groups of small blood vessels) in the skin. This damage is permanent and the redness and itching will return with additional exposure. The redness and itching typically occurs on cheeks, ears, fingers, and toes and is regularly suffered by outdoor workers.

Stopping smoking during working hours and avoiding caffeine based drinks or decongestant medicines, all help to improve blood flow and keep the skin temperature raised. Having at least one hot meal a day also helps, as it helps warm the body.

Those at risk, particularly diabetics, should be encouraged to check their feet regularly, to put on warm clean socks at regular intervals and moisturise skin to prevent cracking of the skin.

So there you go – a few simple tips to keep everyone safe on site this winter. But I’m sure that given the variability of the UK weather, it will be tropical outside as soon as this is published.