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Jan 31, 2025
Brian Clausen, Copy Editor
Winter weather often brings temperatures that plunge below zero degrees, and wind chills even farther below that. For those unable to work remotely, this presents a nightmare scenario of choosing to still go to work in potentially lethal conditions.
This is where companies need to work with their employees to ensure they’re staying safe. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) urges vigilance when severe cold — or heat — is imminent.
OSHA technically has no regulations that explicitly describe what companies should do to protect their employees from bad weather, but OSHA still stipulates that employers have an obligation to provide, “a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards.” Taking that into account, there are many considerations a company can make for their employees:
While most of this is to help prepare those working outdoors or in uninsulated indoor spaces for potentially harsh weather conditions, the same principles and protections can be extended to office workers as well. They might not be able to dig their car out of heavy snow, or their tires might have deflated due to the frigid air. If the heat should stop working or a pipe burst in the office building, know who to call ahead of time. Have contingencies in place so that you can be as prepared as possible to address cold weather when it happens.
For all employees who come into the office, OSHA has numerous recommendations for keeping everyone comfortable during the routine winter weather, and ensuring safety should catastrophic events like drastically low wind chill or blizzards should come to the area.
These plans should be in writing and made easily accessible for all employees to read. Taking the time to have these precautions in place will save a lot of time and money down the road. Your employees will appreciate the time you took to be proactive and protect their safety.
Brian Clausen
Copy Editor
Brian Clausen is a copy editor at SkillPath. He has been with SkillPath for four years, and his writings have appeared on LendingTree, Shutterfly, and Dopplr.
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