Winter Safety Topics: 20 Cold Weather Safety Talks for Crews

Winter safety topics are short talks that prepare employees for the hazards cold weather brings: cold stress, icy walkways, winter driving, snow removal, carbon monoxide from heaters and generators, and shorter, darker days. Below is a list of 20 winter safety topics you can run in about five minutes each, grouped by theme, with a link to a full talk for each one, a ready-to-read cold weather safety talk, discussion questions and answers to common questions.

Winter hazards change week to week. The first frost, the first snow, the first icy morning and the first long cold snap each call for a different conversation. Rotating through the topics below keeps winter safety tips for employees fresh instead of repeating the same "dress warm" reminder all season.

How to use this list

Match the topic to the forecast. Check the weather the night before. Ice in the forecast? Run the slips-on-ice talk. Wind chill advisory? Run cold stress.
Start before the first storm. Late fall is the time for winter driving, vehicle kits and heater safety, before anyone needs them.
Make it about your site. Point to the walkway that ices over, the warm-up area, the salt bin, the truck that needs new wipers.
Ask one question and listen. Crews usually know where the black ice forms first.
Write down what comes up and give each item an owner and a date.

New to leading talks? Start with How to Conduct a Toolbox Talk.

Cold stress and dressing for the cold

1. Cold stress basics. OSHA lists four types of cold stress: trench foot, frostbite, hypothermia and chilblains. Risk factors include wetness/dampness, dressing improperly, and exhaustion. Talk: Cold Stress Prevention.

2. Hypothermia: the signs to watch for. OSHA notes hypothermia can happen even at cool temperatures (above 40°F) if a person is chilled by rain, sweat or cold water. Uncontrollable shivering is an early warning that should not be ignored; confusion, slurred speech and loss of coordination mean get help now. Talk: Cold Stress Prevention.

3. Frostbite first aid. Get the person somewhere warm, protect the area loosely with a dry cloth, and don't rub it or try to rewarm it with heating pads or hot water before medical help. Talk: Cold Weather Toolbox Talk.

4. Wind chill. Wind makes cold air pull heat from the body faster. OSHA's example: at 40°F with a 35 mph wind, the wind chill temperature is 28°F. Talk: Wind Chill Index.

5. Dressing in layers and staying dry. Layers you can adjust, a hat, insulated waterproof boots and spare dry socks and gloves. Wet clothing, even from sweat, speeds heat loss. Talk: Cold Weather Toolbox Talk.

6. Warm-up breaks and the buddy system. OSHA recommends frequent short breaks in warm, dry areas, scheduling work in the warmest part of the day, and working in pairs so someone notices the early signs. Talk: Cold Stress Prevention.

7. Gloves and hands in the cold. Cold hands lose grip and feeling. Pick gloves that keep hands warm without killing dexterity, and avoid touching cold metal with bare skin. Talk: Hand Protection and Glove Selection.

Ice, snow and walking surfaces

8. Slips on ice and snow. OSHA says employers should clear walking surfaces of snow and ice and spread deicer as quickly as possible after a storm. Workers should wear boots with good rubber treads, take short steps and walk slowly. Talk: Slips on Ice and Snow.

9. Shoveling snow safely. Warm up first, scoop small amounts, push snow instead of lifting it where you can, and lift with your legs without twisting. OSHA warns shoveling can bring exhaustion, back injuries and heart attacks. Talk: Shoveling Snow.

10. Snow blowers. Never clear a jam by hand. Turn it off, wait for all moving parts to stop, and use a stick. Don't refuel while it's running or hot. Talk: Winter Weather.

11. Snow on roofs and elevated surfaces. Snow can hide skylights and roof edges, and a loaded roof may not be structurally safe. OSHA says such a surface must be inspected by a competent person first, and to use methods that keep workers off the roof where possible. Talk: Roof Work and Leading Edge Protection.

12. Ladders in winter. Ice and snow on rungs and at the base make ladders riskier. Clear the base, check your boots, and keep three points of contact. Talk: Ladder Safety: Three Points of Contact.

13. Housekeeping for wet entryways. Melting snow tracked indoors creates slick floors. Mats, wet-floor signs and quick cleanup prevent falls. Talk: Housekeeping and Slip Prevention.

Winter driving

14. Driving on snow and ice. Slow down, leave extra following distance, and brake gently. Talk: Winter Weather Driving.

15. Winter vehicle checks and emergency kits. OSHA recommends checking brakes, battery, tires, lights, defrosters and wipers, and carrying a kit with an ice scraper, flashlight, shovel, jumper cables, blankets, water and snacks. Talk: Vehicle Inspections.

16. Stranded in a vehicle. Stay with the vehicle, call for help, run the engine about 10 minutes each hour for heat, and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow to avoid carbon monoxide. Talk: Winter Weather Driving.

17. Darker commutes and fatigue. After the clocks change, more driving happens in the dark. Talk: Daylight Saving Time: Fall Back and Drowsy Driving.

Heat sources, power and storms

18. Carbon monoxide from heaters and generators. Fuel-burning heaters, generators and idling vehicles in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces can build up carbon monoxide, which you can't see or smell. Talk: Carbon Monoxide Hazards.

19. Space heaters and fire prevention. Keep heaters away from combustibles, plug them straight into the wall, and never leave them running unattended. Talk: Electrical Fire Prevention and Fire Prevention in the Workplace.

20. Downed power lines and high winds. Assume every downed line is energized and stay clear; only trained utility workers handle damaged lines. Talk: High Wind Dangers.

For a single all-in-one winter talk, use Winter Weather. For flu season, add Flu Prevention at Work.

Ready-to-read cold weather safety talk (about 5 minutes)

"Morning. Five minutes on working in the cold, because the weather's turning and the first cold days are when people get caught out.

First, dress for it. Layers you can take off and put back on, a hat, gloves that still let you work, and boots with real tread. Bring spare socks and gloves. Wet clothes pull heat out of you fast, and that includes sweat. If you get wet, change.

Second, know the warning signs. Shivering you can't stop is your body telling you to get warm. If a coworker starts slurring words, fumbling, or acting confused, that's not them being tired. Get them inside, get them dry, and call for help. Numb, white or gray patches on fingers, toes, ears or nose can be frostbite. Don't rub it. Get somewhere warm and get medical help.

Third, watch your footing. Walkways and steps ice over first thing in the morning and again late in the day. Short steps, slow down, hands out of your pockets, and use the handrail. If you see ice that hasn't been treated, tell [Name] or grab the salt from [location].

Fourth, take your breaks. Our warm-up area is [location]. Use it. Warm drinks, no alcohol. Work in pairs and keep an eye on each other, especially anyone new or just back from time off.

Last, driving. Slow down, leave extra room, and make sure your vehicle has a scraper, a blanket and a charged phone. If you get stuck, stay with the vehicle, call it in, and keep the exhaust clear of snow.

Questions? Anywhere on this site that ices over that we should be treating? Let's get it written down."

Discussion questions

Where on our site do ice and snow build up first?
What are the early signs of hypothermia, and what would you do if you saw them in a coworker?
Where is our warm-up area, and how often should we use it on a cold day?
What's in your vehicle's winter emergency kit right now?
Which heaters, generators or engines run near enclosed spaces here, and how are they vented?

Common mistakes

Waiting for the first storm. Driving, vehicle and heater talks work best before winter hits.
Overdressing for heavy work, then sweating. Damp layers make people colder later. Layers you can adjust are better.
Skipping breaks to finish faster. Cold stress builds quietly, and tired workers make more mistakes.
Assuming a cleared walkway stays clear. Meltwater refreezes. Check again in the afternoon.
Running heaters or generators indoors without ventilation. Carbon monoxide gives no warning.

Pair this list with

FAQs

What are good winter safety topics for work? The most useful winter safety topics cover cold stress (hypothermia, frostbite, trench foot), dressing in layers, warm-up breaks, slips on ice and snow, shoveling and snow blowers, snow removal from roofs, winter driving and vehicle kits, carbon monoxide from heaters and generators, space heater fire safety and downed power lines. The list above has 20 to rotate through.

What are winter safety tips for employees? Dress in adjustable layers and stay dry, take short breaks in a warm area, work in pairs, wear boots with good tread and take short steps on ice, push snow instead of lifting it, keep a winter kit in work vehicles, and never run fuel-burning equipment in enclosed spaces.

Does OSHA have a cold weather standard? OSHA says it does not have a specific standard for working in cold environments, but under the OSH Act employers have a duty to protect workers from recognized hazards, including cold stress. OSHA recommends training workers to recognize cold stress, prevent it, help those affected and choose proper clothing.

At what temperature does cold stress become a risk? There's no single number. OSHA notes that in areas not used to winter weather, near-freezing temperatures are considered factors for cold stress, that hypothermia can occur above 40°F if someone is wet, and that trench foot can occur at temperatures as high as 60°F if feet stay wet.

How often should we hold winter safety talks? Many crews run one short talk a week through the cold months and add a quick reminder whenever the forecast changes, such as before an ice storm or a wind chill advisory.

Sources: OSHA Winter Weather: Cold Stress; OSHA Winter Weather: Hazards/Precautions; OSHA Winter Weather; OSHA 29 CFR 1910.22, Walking-Working Surfaces: General requirements.

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