Protect winter field crews from cold stress and use winter storm watches to move outdoor work

OSHA has no specific cold-work standard, but employers still must protect workers from recognized cold hazards. Its guidance on wind chill, breaks, buddy systems and training, plus Ready.gov’s 12-to-48-hour winter storm watch lead time, gives dispatch a workable plan.

Source facts

OSHA’s cold stress guidance says employers should know the wind chill temperature to gauge workers’ exposure and plan the work, and should monitor new workers and those returning after time away. OSHA does not have a specific standard for cold environments, but under the OSH Act employers have a duty to protect workers from recognized hazards, including cold stress.

OSHA says employers should train workers to recognize cold-stress conditions and symptoms and to select proper clothing, schedule frequent short breaks in warm dry areas, schedule work during the warmest part of the day, use the buddy system, and avoid touching cold metal or wet surfaces with bare skin. Hypothermia can occur even above 40°F if a person is chilled by rain, sweat or cold water, and trench foot can occur at temperatures as high as 60°F if feet are constantly wet.

Ready.gov explains that Winter Storm Watches are usually issued 12 to 48 hours before a storm and Warnings 12 to 24 hours before. It recommends a car emergency kit with jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water and non-perishable snacks, and keeping a full tank of gas.

Applicability

Use this for any crew that works outdoors or in unheated spaces from late fall to early spring. State-plan states such as Michigan may have their own guidance, and site rules on roof and lift access in snow and ice still apply.

DSE recommendation

DSE recommends adding wind chill and winter storm alerts to daily dispatch and pairing technicians for extended outdoor work in cold weather. Reschedule roof, pole and lift work when a Winter Storm Watch is issued, plan outdoor tasks for midday with warm-up breaks in a heated vehicle, and issue insulated gloves suitable for handling cold metal enclosures and mounts. Stock every service vehicle with the Ready.gov car kit.

Verification

Before the season, check each vehicle’s winter kit and confirm every field employee has completed cold-stress training. During winter, review a sample of dispatch records each month to confirm jobs moved when watches or wind chill advisories were issued, and review any cold-related incident at the next safety meeting.

Official references

OSHA — Winter Weather: Cold Stress. Ready.gov — Winter Weather. Reviewed October 18, 2026.