Winter Safety: Protecting Your Team in Cold Weather

Posted on November 28, 2025

As winter sets in, many of our Members face increased risks across construction sites, workshops, manufacturing floors, and even office or care settings. Cold temperatures, shorter daylight hours and poor weather conditions can all affect the safety and wellbeing of your staff. Now is the ideal time to review your arrangements and make sure your team stays safe, warm and productive over the coming months.

Managing Outdoor and Site-Based Risks

For teams working outdoors, the most common winter hazards include slips, trips and falls from icy surfaces, poor visibility, and the risks associated with handling materials in low temperatures.

Gritting access routes, scaffolding platforms, steps and car parks should be part of your daily winter routine. Encourage staff to report icy patches so they can be dealt with quickly.

Adequate lighting is essential – consider extra task lighting or temporary floodlights where early starts or late finishes are unavoidable.

PPE also plays a major role. Thermal gloves, waterproof boots with good slip resistance, windproof layers and hats should be issued where appropriate.

For anyone working at height, remind them that cold temperatures can reduce grip strength and increase fatigue, so planning additional breaks is sensible.

Indoor Workplaces and Welfare

Cold weather affects indoor environments too. Workshops and factories can quickly drop below comfortable temperatures if doors are frequently opened or machinery generates drafts. Regulations require you to maintain a “reasonable” indoor temperature, so check that heating systems are working efficiently and serviced ahead of time.

In care, hospitality and office settings, slip risks often increase at entrances as people track in snow, rain and ice. Simple steps such as absorbent mats, wet-floor monitoring, and regular cleaning help control these hazards.

Staff welfare is also crucial across all sectors. Access to warm rest areas, hot drinks, and time to warm up between tasks helps reduce the risk of cold stress, reduced dexterity and accidents caused by fatigue.

Driving in Winter Weather

Many businesses rely on staff travelling between sites. Winter driving demands extra precautions: slower speeds, increased stopping distances and daily vehicle checks.

Ensure company vehicles have working lights, effective heating/demisting systems and sufficient tyre tread. It’s also good practice to carry winter kits, such as torches, blankets and screen wash.

Planning Ahead

Review your severe-weather procedures now. Think about how you will communicate site closures, lone-working arrangements or transport issues. Brief your teams, update risk assessments and make sure supervisors understand their responsibilities.

A little preparation goes a long way in keeping your team safe and your operations running smoothly throughout the winter months.