Winter is there with its icy temperatures. However, articles L4121-1 and following have that the employer must guarantee the safety and health of workers according to the risk identified. If it is an obligation of means (and not of result), it is a question of taking the adequate measures. Indeed, some employees work outdoors or in environments little or not heated. In this context, the protection of employees in the great cold is not only a question of comfort, but of safety and health at work.
For business leaders and entrepreneurs, it is essential to anticipate extreme climatic conditions in order to guarantee safe working conditions, in accordance with the regulations and respectful of the well-being of the teams. Here are concrete avenues and preventive actions to protect your employees during the cold weather.
Adapt Personal Protective Equipment (EPI)
When temperatures drop, workers exposed to cold must be appropriately equipped to avoid any risk of degradation of their health. Personal protection equipment (EPI) play a central role in this process. They make it possible to reduce the effects of cold on the body, but also to prevent risks linked to humidity, wind, or even outside visibility, especially during low light conditions.
Thermal and insulating clothing
Clothes must be adapted to climatic conditions. In winter, it is imperative to provide coats, jackets, pants and clothes that effectively isolate cold. These must also be designed to allow optimal mobility, especially in the sectors where employees are led to move frequently (construction, logistics, etc.). It is advisable to favor multilayer clothes, which allow better regulation of body temperature. A thermal underlay, an insulating layer and an waterproof exterior layer are an effective solution.
Additional protective accessories
Gloves, cups, scarves, and thermal socks are also essential to protect the body parts most sensitive to cold. The hands and feet being the most vulnerable to frostbite and numbness, gloves doubled in wool or insulating materials, as well as waterproof and non -slip shoes, are essential. Wool or fleece cups, combined with suitable scarves, help maintain body heat and prevent the risk of cold -related injuries.
Safety shoes and accessories
Shoes should be non -slip to avoid falls on slippery surfaces. The choice of sole is decisive to guarantee optimal grip, in particular on frozen floors. Accessories such as crampons or heated soles can also be considered to strengthen the safety of employees working outdoors. They notably warn risks of fall.
Organize regular breaks and heated spaces
Outdoor work in extreme cold generates employee health risks. Hypothermia, dehydration, frostbite and accidents due to cold are real dangers. It is therefore necessary to develop regular breaks allowing employees to warm up. These breaks should not only be seen as an opportunity to recover, but also as a means of preserving the health of employees.
Arrange heated and secure areas
It is essential that employees exposed to cold have access to heated areas where they can warm up during their breaks. These areas must be equipped with suitable installations: extra heaters, heated covers, or hot drinks such as teas or cafes to promote blood circulation. These areas must also allow workers to rest comfortably, far from extreme climatic conditions, and thus prevent fatigue linked to prolonged exposure to cold.
Regular breaks to avoid hypothermia
The frequency of breaks must be adapted according to the duration of the exposure and the weather conditions. For example, an employee who works outside in temperatures below -5 ° C must be able to take a break every 45 minutes at an hour. These breaks limit the risks of hypothermia and promote better blood circulation.
Train employees in cold -related risks
One of the best ways to protect your employees from the cold is to make them aware of the dangers of cold and the behavior to be adopted to avoid accidents. Good training will prevent risky situations, learn to identify the first signs of cold -related disorders, and understand how to react effectively. The training must include information on the symptoms of hypothermia, frostbite and frostbite. Workers must know how to recognize the signs of fatigue, excessive drowsiness, numbness or pale skin, which may indicate prolonged exposure to cold. It is also important to remind them of the importance of rehydration and food in the prevention of cold risks, as dehydration and poor nutrition can accentuate the effects of cold.
In addition to training on risk prevention, employees must be trained in first aid. This includes simple but essential actions, such as how to warm a colleague victim of hypothermia or frostbite, and how to quickly contact help. It is also important to inform employees about the steps to follow in the event of a cold -related work accident.
Adapt work schedules and tasks
One of the most effective strategies to avoid cold -related risks is to adapt working hours and organize tasks so as to minimize employee exposure to extreme climatic conditions. This sometimes requires a reorganization of schedules and production processes, but it can make the difference to preserve the health of workers.
Reducing the exposure time is therefore a rigorous solution and management of the schedules makes it possible to provide time slots where the temperature is less low (generally in the afternoon, when the sun has warmed the atmosphere a little). In addition, in the event of intense colds, some companies choose to shift the start time of the work to avoid working the employees from the first hours of the day.
In addition, certain particularly demanding tasks can be delegated to teams by rotation. This reduces the exposure time to cold for each employee. The most painful tasks or those that require prolonged exposure to the cold can be carried out indoors, while the external tasks can be entrusted to specific or programmed teams at times when the temperature is milder.
Provide an action plan for emergencies
Despite all the precautions taken, it is essential to have an action plan in an emergency. The rapid intervention in the event of an accident is vital to avoid complications related to extreme cold. It is therefore useful to set up emergency procedures in case of hypothermia or frostbite. The staff must be trained to find out how to react in case of hypothermia, frostbite or other disorders related to cold. It is essential that each work site has well -supplied first aid kits and that a rapid communication system with the emergency services is set up. Employees must be aware of the emergency procedures, which include sheltering of the victim, the application of heating covers and, of course, the immediate call for help if necessary.
Finally, regular monitoring of working conditions in winter, as well as risk assessments, must be carried out to proactively identify improvement areas. Employee feedback must be taken into account to adjust and improve safety measures.