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6 Strategies to Keep Construction Workers Productive and Warm on Chilly Sites

By Bernadette Salapare | Apr 24, 2024 11:44 PM EDT

Despite the chill, productivity does not have to decrease on construction sites during winter. Implementing these simple strategies can ensure workers stay warm and efficient.

(Photo : Pexe;s/James Neal )

1. Cover Your Head, Feet, and Hands

Your face and head are among the parts of your body that are particularly susceptible to shifts in temperature. Make sure that everyone is shielding their face, head, hands, and feet on top of the layers of clothes that you and your crew are dressing in.

Accordingly, you should wear insulated gloves, a helmet or hood to decrease the body heat that escapes your head, and boots that are either insulated and waterproof or the shoes required to stay safe.

2. Layer Warmth Clothing

One of the most effective strategies for keeping warm when working in cold weather is to wear multiple layers of clothes throughout the day. Your contractors should insulate themselves in the same way that they insulate homes. Educate any new contractors on the fundamentals of layering.

As mentioned, your first layer should be a breathable base layer, followed by a middle layer made of wool, silk, or synthetic material, and finally, an outer layer that protects from the elements should be added.

Cotton should be avoided because becoming wet reduces its ability to insulate. While offering protection from wind and precipitation, the outermost layer should also permit sufficient ventilation to ensure comfort.

3. Use Pocket or Hand Warmers

Even though gloves are the most efficient method of protecting your hands from the weather, it is only sometimes possible to operate machinery while wearing them.

Using pocket or hand warmers is an alternative to keep your considering sporting goods stores and online, such as disposable, refillable, or rechargeable devices. Additionally, an investment of as little as $30 can often cover a winter's expenses.

Also Read: The Hidden Dangers and Neglected Protections in Construction

4. Eat Protein-Rich Food

Your body's natural response to chilly weather is to raise the temperature. When your body generates heat to maintain its temperature, it expends incredible energy and consumes more calories than it would on a day.

Nourishing your body with nutritious food centered on protein is essential to avoid running out of gas. The best method for ensuring that your body can continue producing and that you do not grow weary too quickly is to bring some additional snacks with you to eat throughout the day.

5. Stay Dry

If your clothing becomes wet and the moisture remains on your skin, your body temperature will decrease. For this reason, it is essential that your base layer allows moisture to be wicked out of your body while ensuring your outer layer is waterproof so that moisture does not penetrate it.

Furthermore, it is reportedly an excellent idea to keep spares of things like socks, gloves, caps, hard hat liners, and other items on hand so that you can replace them if they become wet.

6. Keep Moving

Movement is the primary source of heat production in the body. If you work outside in the cold, you must remain active throughout the process. Nevertheless, this should be fine since some building work requires physical work.

Naturally, suppose your body movement begins to generate an excessive amount of heat. In that case, it will lead you to sweat, which can be a negative physiological response. If you want to stay warm and dry, try to establish a balance between wearing enough clothes and moving around enough.

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