Make Your Site Safer in Cold Temps

Winter brings a new set of safety challenges to construction. Ice, snow, wind, freezing temperatures, poor visibility -- it all adds risk. As you get ready for the season to change, think about prepping three aspects of your business: your team, your equipment and your site.

Train the team: OSHA recommends that all operators who work in snowy or icy conditions receive training on safe winter procedures. Make sure training includes information about hypothermia -- it can happen even when air temperatures are above freezing. Early warning signs include shivering, blotchy skin, blue fingers and numbness.

Evaluate the equipment: make sure all preventive maintenance is up-to-date, install correct fluids and filters, keep batteries charged and tires inflated. In extremely cold temperatures, consider using a block heater or room-temperature starting fluid. Let the machine reach operating temperature before work begins.

Scout the site: keep driving and pedestrian routes free of ice and snow, add extra lighting, mark active work zones with highly visible signs, and use cones or barricades to delineate risky areas.