For many employees, the cold is not a temporary constraint linked to winter. It is a daily, sometimes permanent work environment. Long relegated to the background, work in cold environments is now recognized for what it really is: a central issue for health, performance and working conditions. From agri-food to logistics, from construction to agriculture, including energy maintenance or transport, the sectors concerned are numerous. And everywhere, the effects of the cold are felt, well beyond the simple feeling of discomfort.
A phenomenon more common than we imagine
According to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, around 15% of employees in Europe frequently encounter temperatures below 10°C in the context of their work. According to INRS in France, each year, more than 1.5 million employees carry out their activity in cold or very cold environments, whether indoors or outdoors.
With the increase in refrigerated storage facilities, the expansion of the food cold chain and the increase in cold spells during winter, this exposure appears to be increasing. Contrary to what one might think, the cold is not limited to outdoor jobs: it also affects sedentary, repetitive and restrictive positions.
What cold does to the body
The human body is designed to maintain a stable internal temperature around 37°C. When exposed to the cold, it must make a constant effort to maintain this balance. Result: increased fatigue, often underestimated.
Recent studies show that working in an environment below 10°C can lead to:
- a decrease in manual dexterity of 20 to 30%,
- a significant increase in musculoskeletal disorders,
- an increased risk of microtrauma, stiffness and chronic pain.
The cold also affects blood circulation, slows down reflexes and impairs the precision of movements. In certain sectors, this results in an increase in workplace accidents. According to Health Insurance, professions exposed to the cold have an accident rate up to 25% higher than the national average during winter.
A silent impact on the mind
But the cold does not stop at its physiological effects. It also acts on morale and mental load. Isolation, prolonged discomfort, clothing constraints, feeling of constant fatigue: all factors that weigh on psychological well-being.
A study published in 2024 by the University of Copenhagen highlights that prolonged exposure to cold is associated with an increase in perceived stress, a drop in motivation and an increased feeling of hardship. The employees concerned more often report a loss of commitment and a difficulty in projecting themselves sustainably into their position.
In a context of tension over recruitment and the quest for meaning at work, these elements become strategic for companies.
Performance and productivity: cold has a cost
Contrary to popular belief, cold is not neutral on performance. Several studies carried out in recent years show a drop in productivity of between 5 and 15% in poorly adapted cold environments.
The reasons are multiple:
- slowing down of gestures,
- more frequent breaks,
- increased errors,
- higher absenteeism.
Added to this is an indirect cost that is often ignored: staff turnover. In refrigerated logistics, the turnover rate can exceed 30% per year, according to 2023 figures from DARES. The cold then becomes an aggravating factor in the instability of the teams.
Adapt the work, not just the clothes
Faced with these observations, purely material responses are no longer enough. Of course, equipment remains essential:
- suitable thermal clothing,
- insulating gloves,
- specific shoes.
But experts today agree on one point: the organization of work is just as decisive.
Among the most effective levers identified by INRS and ANACT:
- alternation of tasks to limit continuous exposure,
- the provision of regular breaks in heated areas,
- reduction of repetitive movements in the cold,
- training managers in climate risk prevention.
Some companies go further by integrating temperature sensors, adjusting throughput or completely rethinking logistics flows to reduce the time spent in the coldest areas.
An issue of social dialogue
Working in the cold also questions the employer-employee relationship. Too often, the feelings of the teams are minimized, because the cold is perceived as a “normal” constraint of the profession. However, studies show that recognition of this arduousness plays a key role in the acceptance of working conditions.
In 2024, a survey conducted among food industry employees reveals that 72% of them believe that their exposure to cold is not sufficiently taken into account in managerial decisions. Conversely, companies that engage in open dialogue on these topics see a notable improvement in the social climate.
Anticipate rather than endure
At a time when companies are seeking to reconcile performance, attractiveness and social responsibility, working in the cold can no longer be treated as a simple technical parameter. This is a human issue, which affects health, dignity and the sustainability of work.
The cold is not always seen in financial indicators. It infiltrates bodies, gestures, minds. And it is often the employees themselves who bear the weight, in silence.
Recognizing this reality is taking a first step towards more lucid, fairer and, ultimately, more efficient organizations.
