On work sites, it’s not just the risk of arc flashes, chemicals and other hazards that need to be considered. There are more natural risks and challenges too, including (but not limited to) heat stress, cold exposure, wetness, wind, and sunburn. Not only are these risks in themselves, but they can also alter the risks posed by other hazards on site too. For this reason, it’s important to take the weather into account when gearing up with protective clothing.

Types of clothing suitable for various weather conditions

As the Safe Work Australia website outlines, there are some general guidelines on what people should consider wearing, based on the prevailing weather conditions. These include:

  • Hot and sunny weather: Workers should wear light-coloured, loose-fitting, and breathable fabrics that can reflect heat and allow air circulation. They should also wear hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect their eyes and skin from UV radiation.
  • Cold and windy weather: Workers should wear layers of warm, insulating, and windproof clothing that can retain body heat and prevent heat loss. They should also wear gloves, hats, scarves, and earmuffs to protect their extremities from frostbite.
  • Wet and rainy weather: Workers should wear waterproof, breathable, and fast-drying clothing that can repel water and prevent moisture accumulation. They should also wear boots, raincoats, and umbrellas to keep their feet and body dry.

Of course, if the worksite includes hazards that require different clothing to be worn, safety best practice means dressing to mitigate the risk of the hazard first. However, it will be important to find other ways to handle the weather risk. For example, if workers need to wear heavy protective gear during hot and sunny weather, it would be advisable to provide for more frequent breaks.

In short, it’s important to understand the benefits of certain types of clothing in certain conditions. If that clothing is then not practical, it’s important to find a solution that offers the same benefits.

  • Reduced risk of heat-related illnesses: Wearing light and breathable clothing can help workers regulate their body temperature and prevent heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. When the ideal clothing is not practical, allowing for a slower pace of work and more breaks can counter the heat effect.
  • Reduced risk of cold-related injuries: Wearing warm and windproof clothing can help workers maintain their body temperature and prevent hypothermia, frostbite, and trench foot. When not practical, greatly reducing exposure to the environmental effects is critical.
  • Reduced risk of slips, trips, and falls: Wearing waterproof and anti-slip footwear can help workers avoid slipping, tripping, and falling on wet and slippery surfaces. These accidents can cause injuries such as sprains, fractures, concussions, and even fatalities. An alternative might be to pause work if the damp conditions are only going to be temporary.

Finally, it’s important to understand that this safety equipment isn’t just for the physical safety it provides. Wearing comfortable and appropriate clothing can help workers feel more at ease and confident in their work, and this can boost their morale, motivation, and performance.

How to choose and maintain PPE for different weather conditions

Choosing and maintaining PPE for different weather conditions is a shared responsibility between the employer and the worker. The employer should provide workers with suitable PPE that meets the relevant standards and regulations, and consult with workers about their preferences and needs. The worker should wear the PPE correctly and consistently, and report any issues or defects to the employer.

Most critically, it’s important to build the use of PPE into the SWMS document that is completed at the start of the project. That way each party has a clear understanding of expectations and requirements.

How to monitor and manage workers’ health and safety in different weather conditions

In addition to making sure that employees are properly equipped with safety clothing, employers should make sure that they are monitoring and managing workers’ health and safety in different weather conditions too.

Some useful tips for monitoring and managing workers’ health and safety in different weather conditions are:

  • Hot and sunny weather: Monitor the temperature and humidity levels, and use the heat index or the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) to assess the heat stress risk. Adjust the work schedule and workload according to the heat stress level, and provide workers with frequent breaks and access to shade, water, and cooling facilities. Educate workers on the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, such as headache, nausea, dizziness, fainting, and confusion, and how to prevent and treat them. And, of course, keeping the water intake up is critical.
  • Cold and windy weather: Monitor the temperature and wind chill levels, and use the wind chill index or the predicted mean vote (PMV) to assess the cold stress risk. Adjust the work schedule and workload according to the cold stress level, and provide workers with frequent breaks and access to shelter, heating, and warm drinks. Educate workers on the signs and symptoms of cold-related injuries, such as shivering, numbness, blisters, and frostbite, and ensure they have first aid training in these areas.
  • Wet and rainy weather: Monitor the rainfall and flood levels, and use the rainfall intensity or the flash flood guidance (FFG) to assess the flood risk. Adjust the work schedule and workload according to the flood risk level, and provide workers with access to shelter, drainage, and emergency equipment.

It’s easy to lose sight of the risk that weather players in work environments that have plenty of other hazards, but weather can easily make hazards even more dangerous or create all-new hazards that need to be accounted for. Having the right equipment to manage these risks is essential. If you have any questions about what the right clothing would be under certain conditions, then be sure to contact the NECA team. We are the experts in workplace safety wear and we can help you ensure that your people are fully protected.