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A major snowstorm hit the Gulf Coast this week, while a bitter cold gripped much of the eastern half of the country as temperatures dropped to dangerously low temperatures.
Cold weather can create hazards not only for homeowners and motorists, but also for construction workers who must work outside, especially those in regions that do not normally experience freezing conditions.
“When you think about how it affects the heat [workers] depending on what they’re used to, like someone who works in an environment that’s always hot, they’re going to be more used to the heat,” said Jessica Bunting, director of research for CPWR’s practice in Silver Spring, Md. — Center of Research and Training in Construction. “It can be similar with the cold. Not only are our bodies more acclimatized, but we also have better equipment, better clothes.”
And this is far from the first time in recent years that extreme cold has hit unusual places. Temperatures measured a Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport plummeted to 2 below in February 2021 as the cold snap created an energy crisis across the state, the Dallas Morning News reported. In 2022, much of Texas experienced temperatures below freezing during the holidays.
These unusual lows contrast with the summer temperatures they have soared above normal levels in recent years. Scientists say climate change fuels these extreme weather eventsboth at high and low temperatures.
Safety experts say working in the cold requires similar vigilance from workplace superintendents and managers as working in the heat. Having a safety plan, watching workers and providing education to workers about new hazards is key, they told Construction Dive.
Put people first
New York City-based Turner Construction is no stranger to projects in different climates. The builder is currently working on the $1.4 billion Buffalo Bills Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The new venue, very close to the existing one, will undoubtedly be known for hosting snow games.
But this snowfall does not wait for the construction to end.
“I think the biggest thing is awareness and knowing that you’re going to have weather issues in the winter,” said Steve Spaulding, Turner’s head of environmental health and safety.
Spaulding repeatedly emphasized planning: Safety crews should have an idea of when the temperature drops and when snow or sleet arrives, to prepare the site to protect materials and labor.
Todd Friis, senior vice president of risk management at Chicago-based Clayco, the Midwest’s largest contractor, said his company also deals with projects in various climates, and he also stressed the need to have a detailed
“Coping with winter conditions requires proactive planning, which is why we develop detailed winter weather preparedness plans well in advance of any anticipated extreme conditions,” Friis said. “These plans prioritize worker safety while maintaining efficient and effective construction progress.”
Both Turner and Friis have adopted the use of gas or electric heaters when necessary, when temperatures drop below 40 degrees for Clayco. But putting in a warming zone requires planning, capacity support, reliable heating sources, protection from the elements and knowledge of additional risks, such as carbon monoxide, Friis said.
Responsibilities of the employer
In cold weather, workers can develop cold stress and hypothermia before they start to notice the worst symptoms, Bunting said.
Even in a cold workplace, employees still sweat, which in cold temperatures can be dangerous because hypothermia sets in quickly, said Mary Bauer, an OSHA compliance assistance specialist with based in Wisconsin. Also, cold weather can affect a worker’s judgment in subtle ways.
For example, someone with a cold may choose to take a shortcut, walking a more dangerous route to get warm faster.
A road sign is covered in snow and ice after a historic winter storm on January 22, 2025 in Tallahassee, Florida.
Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo via Getty Images
OSHA does not have a specific standard for cold weather safety, although it does several pages of resources to help employers. It’s not exactly clear how many injuries or fatalities are caused by extreme cold, Bunting said, since most data only categorizes incidents as temperature-related. That said, it’s safe to assume that heat causes more of these injuries, as work is more likely to continue in the heat than in the freezing cold.
Still, employers have responsibilities, and failure to keep the workplace safe could lead to injuries and citations. OSHA has no guidance on when to close a workplace, Bauer said. Experts told Construction Dive that the decision to continue work is not taken lightly and depends on several factors, including whether the roads are passable.
“In OSHA’s eyes, everyone needs a safe and healthy workplace,” Bauer said. “And if the weather or the weather or something interferes with that, the employer has to make a change.”
When it comes to dressing for the heat, Bauer said, that’s actually the employee’s responsibility. Employers still need to consider what workers are used to and what’s in their wardrobe.
“If you’re talking about the southern states that have situations where they’re working in sub-freezing, something below 30 degrees and they’re not used to it, they don’t have gloves, they don’t have jackets and the right kind of shoes, the employer should make sure they have proper protection before they go out,” Bauer said.
However, he acknowledged that some people in his home state flaunt the icy weather.
“We have people in northern Wisconsin who wear shorts in the winter,” he said. “I mean, it’s crazy.”
In addition, experts suggested:
- Ensure proper safety gear and warm weather gear.
- Providing frequent breaks for workers to rest, warm up and hydrate.
- Educate employees about early signs of cold stress and hypothermia, such as shivering, stomping to stay warm, confusion or loss of coordination.
- Pay close attention to potential hazards to ensure they are not exacerbated by cold weather.
- Know how cold weather can affect existing warranties. For example, Friis said, sometimes air horns used in emergencies don’t work properly in extreme cold.
Spaulding said resources for cold weather safety abound, and it’s an area where the big players collaborate rather than compete by sharing resources and best practices.
“If you always think of the worker first, that makes it very easy,” Spaulding said.
