Working in the cold
When Winter sweeps across Victoria, temperatures can drop sharply, especially in regional areas and early mornings. For outdoor workers, or those in cold storage and refrigerated environments, these conditions aren’t just uncomfortable, they can be dangerous if not managed properly.
Working in a cold environment can lead to:
- Hypothermia: when body temperature drops below safe levels.
- Frostbite: damage to skin and tissue from freezing.
- Reduced dexterity: making tasks harder and increasing risk of incidents.
- Slips and falls: from ice, frost, or wet surfaces.
- Fatigue: as the body works harder to stay warm.
- Increase in prevalence of other conditions: such as arthritis and bronchitis.
Under the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (The Act), employers must provide a safe working environment. This includes:
- Identifying cold-related hazards.
- Implementing control measures to eliminate or reduce the risk as far as reasonably practicable.
- Follow a risk management process in relation to the hazard.
- Consult with your workforce throughout the process.
When you have identified that you have a cold hazard in your workplace, you must control the risk as far as reasonably practicable. As, always this means working through the Hierarchy of Control from top to bottom. Here are some ways you could think about controlling the cold hazard in your workplace:
- Eliminate: Think about changing work scheduling if weather is extreme.
- Substitute: Think about whether you could move the work to another location.
- Isolate: Protect the workers from the cold, for example by providing shelter.
- Engineer: Can you provide heating or insulation in this work situation?
- Administrative controls: Could include changes to the workflow or rosters. Training must be provided, including training in the signs of cold stress and treatment.
- PPE: Such as weatherproof clothing, hats, face covers, boots, and allowing for drying or replacement of gear.
Don’t forget that, under The Act, Consultation must be undertaken at every step of the process.
Monitoring of the controls must also occur, especially as conditions change. Frosts and wind chill factor should be taken into account, as well as seasonal or unexpected weather changes.
Cold conditions in Victoria can be managed with the right planning, clothing, and awareness. Employers and workers share the responsibility to ensure everyone stays safe, warm, and healthy through the winter months. Health and safety representatives are a key part of the co-operative process required to create safe workplaces.
For more information on this topic, take a look at:
For specific guidance regarding cold storage facilities: Safe operation of cold storage facilities: A handbook for workplaces | WorkSafe Victoria
