Temperature reduction: what to do when working outdoors?

What are the risks of working in the cold?

Extreme cold can have repercussions on the quality of work and lead directly or indirectly to accidents (slippery soils, difficulty moving outdoors, etc.).

Cold weather also poses health risks to workers exposed to:

• increased fatigue;
• drowsiness;
• loss of dexterity;
• frostbite (painful red ends of the body, then gray and painless);
• cramps;
• hypothermia (body temperature below 35°C);
• decreased blood supply to the fingers (Raynaud syndrome);
• etc.

How to prevent in the face of low temperatures?

The most effective measure is avoid or limit cold exposure time.

Otherwise, work should be organized accordingly, isolated work should be avoided, appropriate equipment should be used, several layers of clothing should be worn, the head and hands should be protected, and breaks should be taken in heated rooms. People should also drink hot drinks, eat well, and not drink alcohol, which does not warm up.

He is advisor to cover particularly parts of the body that lose heat (head, neck, hands and feet) and your nose and mouth, to breathe less cold air.

What does the labor code say about exposure to cold?

The Labor Code does not give a minimum temperature indication however, some regulations aim to ensure suitable working conditions and prevent risks associated with cold.

Thus, the employer must, after consulting the occupational doctor and the health and safety and working conditions committee or, failing that, the staff representatives, all the provisions necessary to ensure the protection of workers against the cold and bad weather. The worker, too, may seek advice from the occupational doctor, which may enable him to arrange the workstation.

In the context of employment in closed premises, the Labor Code provides that these premises are heated during the cold season. The heating shall be operated in such a way as to maintain a suitable temperature.