The Overlooked Safety Hazards of Cold Weather

When you think of dehydration, you probably think of overheating during the summer. But when it is cold out or your employees work in a cold environment, they can also become dehydrated. A pre-start up safety review will identify this often-overlooked safety hazard.

What Is Cold Weather Dehydration?

When it is hot outside, you see the sweat on your skin, which is a good indication that you are losing bodily fluids. But when the air is dry or cold, your sweat quickly evaporates and does not accumulate on your skin. That means it is harder to tell when you are losing fluids.

When the weather is cold, however, your body can lose more fluid than when it is hot outside. In cold air, you can see your breath. The more your employees are exerting themselves, the more water they will lose in this manner.

It is also harder to detect thirst when it is cold. This is a warning flag of early dehydration. So, when it is cold, your workers may not drink enough water. If they are in cold conditions for a couple of hours but not working, they are at a very low risk of dehydration. But if your workers are in a cold environment doing high-intensity activities, they’ll tend to sweat more and be at a higher risk of dehydration. The older your employees are, the higher a risk they are at since their body cannot conserve water as efficiently.

What You Can Do

Make sure that your workers drink a lot of fluid when it is cold outside. Have beverages that will help workers to replenish their electrolytes. They should be sipping it throughout the day. A few litres each day is a good starting point. Different factors will impact the needed amount, including:

Gender.

Age.

Level of physical activity.

Medical conditions.

Temperature.

You can’t rely on your thirst to tell you when you need to drink. It is not accurate when the weather is cold. That will cause dehydration. Encourage your workers to bring vegetables and fruits to eat on break, which have water in them too. Make sure that you educate your employees on the risks since this is something many of them never think about.

Get Your Pre-Start Health and Safety Review

Your workers are at a risk for dehydration no matter what time of year it is. To perform properly, the body needs to have enough fluids. Making sure everyone stays hydrated is only part of having a safe working environment, however. A PSR assessment will ensure that your facility is a safe place. It can also help you ensure that you are meeting all of the Ontario safety requirements.