Risk Management for Working Safely Through Winter

By Sara Crawford.

Winter can bring extra challenges for many workplaces, particularly where workers are outdoors, moving between sites, working early starts, or exposed to cold, wet or windy conditions. Even when temperatures are not extreme, winter weather can affect concentration, visibility, energy levels and overall wellbeing. This can increase the likelihood of mistakes, slips, trips, manual handling injuries, equipment damage and workers taking shortcuts to get the job finished faster.

Under New Zealand’s health and safety framework, businesses have a duty to manage risks to workers’ health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable. Cold, wet and windy working conditions should be treated as workplace hazards and managed through planning, consultation, effective controls, suitable personal protective equipment, and ongoing monitoring.

Plan the Work Around the Weather

Good winter health and safety starts before the work begins. Supervisors and workers should check forecasts, consider wind chill, review ground and access conditions, and plan high-risk or weather-sensitive tasks for the safest, and most practical time. Where workers cannot be adequately protected from cold, wet or windy conditions, work may need to be modified, delayed, rotated or stopped until it can be completed safely.

Practical steps for Winter risk management:

• Check the weather forecast and site conditions before starting work

• Schedule outdoor work for warmer, drier parts of the day where possible

• Provide shelter from wind, rain and cold during breaks

• Allow additional warm-up breaks or rotate workers exposed to cold conditions

• Provide drying facilities so wet clothing and PPE can be dried between breaks or shifts

• Review lighting, visibility, ground conditions and access routes, especially during early starts or late finishes

Clear procedures for working in cold or wet conditions help ensure tasks are carried out safely and consistently.

Need a hand assessing your workplace risks? We can help with a one-off consultation or, if you'd like on-going continuous support, as a management client.

Winter Wellness Matters

Winter wellness is about more than staying warm. Cold conditions can place additional stress on the body and may contribute to fatigue, reduced concentration, slower reaction times and reduced manual dexterity. Workers who are tired, cold, hungry or dehydrated are less likely to recognise hazards early and more likely to make errors.

Tips for workplace wellbeing:

• Encourage workers to keep dry and change out of wet clothing as soon as practical

• Provide access to warm areas for rest breaks

• Remind workers to stay hydrated, even when they do not feel thirsty

• Encourage regular food intake to help maintain energy levels

• Train workers and supervisors to recognise signs of cold stress, including shivering, numbness, clumsiness, confusion or unusual tiredness

• Use a buddy system for workers who are exposed to cold, wet, remote or isolated conditions.

• Encourage workers to speak up if conditions become unsafe or if they are not feeling fit for the task

Is It All About Correct PPE for the Task?

PPE is an important part of winter work planning, but it should not be the only control. Before relying on PPE, businesses should first consider whether the risk can be eliminated, isolated or reduced through better planning, shelter, heating, task rotation, equipment selection or changes to work procedures. If you need a hand with your Winter risk management, we can help. Whether it's through a one-off consultation service specifically for risk management support, or as a management client, we can work together to ensure your workplace is safe and that your risks are effectively managed.

Once those controls are in place, PPE should provide additional protection and be suitable for the task, the weather, the work environment and the worker.

Some key considerations for suitable PPE are:

• Visibility: Ensure outer clothing remains high visibility where workers are exposed to vehicles, mobile plant or low-light conditions

• Hands: Select gloves that keep hands warm while still allowing safe grip, touch sensitivity and control of tools or equipment

• Feet: Provide footwear with suitable tread, ankle support, insulation and water resistance for wet or slippery ground conditions

• Head protection: Where hard hats are required, use compatible thermal liners or close-fitting beanies that do not affect the fit or performance of the helmet

• Task compatibility: Confirm PPE does not create new hazards, such as loose clothing becoming caught in machinery, bulky gloves reducing control

• Condition and fit: Inspect PPE regularly and replace items that are damaged, worn, no longer waterproof, poorly fitting or not being used correctly

Talk to Workers and Review What Works

Workers are often best placed to identify whether winter controls are practical. They can provide feedback on whether PPE fits properly, whether gloves allow enough movement, whether breaks are long enough to warm up, or whether wet clothing can be dried between shifts. Consultation also helps identify tasks where controls need to be adjusted as conditions change.

Winter controls should be reviewed throughout the season, especially after incidents, near misses, worker feedback, weather changes or changes to the work being completed. A quick seasonal review of risk assessments, PPE, emergency plans and worker training can help prevent winter conditions from becoming a source of harm. Not sure what a near miss is or what to do after one? Read our blog on this exact issue here.

Key Takeaway

Working safely in winter requires a combination of planning, worker wellbeing, suitable risk management and the right PPE for the task. When businesses plan around the weather, support workers to stay warm and well, and ensure PPE is suitable, maintained and used correctly, they are better placed to keep people safe, healthy and productive throughout the colder months. These controls should form part of your broader health and safety systems, ensuring they are applied consistently across all sites.

If you’re unsure whether your current approach is practical, we can support you with reviewing your health and safety systems to help ensure winter risks are being managed effectively.

• For one-time assistance, check out our One-Off Consultations service page.

• For ongoing health and safety support, check out our Health & Safety Management page and explore what becoming a management client gets you!