Cold-Weather Working

Considering my employment at Maydencroft started in October and it is now January - I have been working in cold weather for my entire time at the company. As this is the case, it's probably worth discussing the impacts of weather while working outdoors, from the individual, employer and legislative perspective.


My expereience with Cold-Weather working:

As previously mentioned, almost every day that I've worked since starting in October has been "Cold." For the sake of this blog I'll refer to the only day that it has snowed while on the job since I have started - with that being the 6th of January where I was Tree planting in Hatfield in -2°C.



This Photo was taken minutes before the snow had started, as you can see, I'm in just a shirt. This is because I tend to overheat easily with multiple layers, especially with sleeves and I'm doing a physically demanding task as well.

As it started snowing, we took a break, waiting for the snow to subside and obviously I put my waterproof coat back on. This falls in line, coincidentally, with what the HSE (https://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/) recommends workers to do in cold weather:



How does Maydencroft assist with Cold-Weather working?:
While there is very little in terms of laws and regulations I can find in regards to working in cold weather while outside, Maydencroft as acompany is fairly accomodating in making cold working conditions more bearable. This is because of  the flexible break time while on-site, where teams can choose how they allocate their hour of break throughout the day. The amount of workwear we are given as well makes facing the cold signfcantly easier too. In addition to my shirt, trousers and shorts when I first started, I was also given a fleece, waterproof coat and sleeveless padded jacket as well - in addition to all the PPE of course too. There is also this portable trailer utility room which is sometimes used for big jobs over a long period of time in remote places but I am yet to see that in action though


What does the HSE say?

https://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/

The HSE website states: "The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations require employers to provide a reasonable indoor temperature in the workplace.
This depends on the work activity and the environmental conditions.
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations require reasonable workplace temperatures for indoor areas of construction sites.
Where the site is outdoors, you must provide protection from adverse weather. Site rest facilities must also be maintained at an appropriate temperature.

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, employers must:

  • assess the risks to workers
  • put controls in place to protect them

The Approved Code of Practice on the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations suggests the minimum temperature for working indoors should normally be at least:

  • 16°C or
  • 13°C if much of the work involves rigorous physical effort"
Most of this doesn't apply to a majority of employees at Maydencroft who work almost exclusively outdoors but even so cold weather working is acknowledged in the dynamic risk assessment which must be filled in before any work takes place. All sites also have protection from adverse weather too in the form of the vehicles used to travel to the site as well.

The HSE also states:



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