By Jim Poage, Safety Director, Safeco Incorporated

A study was performed by the Navy SEALS that revealed that if you are wearing wet clothes, in sixty degree weather, for sixty minutes, you will begin to experience the first stages of hypothermia. Because of this low temperature threshold, it is extremely important for outdoor advertising workers to take precautions when working in cold weather.

Cold temperatures can become dangerous after only a few minutes of exposure. Dressing properly is part of the defense against the cold weather. Wearing layers of clothes and then putting on with fall protection equipment can complicate things.  Some safety professionals say that a harness should not be worn over anything except your base layer of clothing and that coats and jackets should be worn over a harness.  Others say that doing so could cause strangulation during a fall if the coat or jacket was pull up to the throat area so coats should be worn under a harness.  I feel that if you are going to wear a harness over winter clothing that it becomes even more important that you snug the harness up to where it would pass a “hand test” (no area looser than the width of a flat hand).  This may make the harness restrictive and uncomfortable to wear, but it will prevent slipping during a fall event.

Wear a hat and balaclava.  Hats prevent heat loss through the head and a balaclava can be used to keep the neck and face warm.  Dry gloves and dry socks are a necessity. I recommend keeping a spare pair of each on the job site to help prevent frost bit in the extremities if they become wet.  Wet socks can cause serious issues that could lead up to amputation if not taken seriously.

Finally, stay hydrated. Most people do not realize the amount of moisture that is lost through the breath and skin during respiration and perspiration during cold weather. The best drinks to have while working in cold weather are plain, warm water, or a plain non-caffeine tea.  Sorry, no alcohol.

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