Personal protective clothing and equipment, such as jackets, hats, gloves, heat accessories, and footwear traction devices can reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses associated with working in a cold environment. Working in cold temperatures and high winds, particularly if the skin is wet, for an extended period can result in cold-related injuries and illnesses. Using footwear traction devices and insulated, waterproof, and wind-resistant protective clothing can have a positive impact on safety and productivity. Ensuring the availability and use of adequate personal protective clothing and equipment helps to lower the risk of cold-related injuries and illnesses.

When working in cold environments, workers should ensure they are prepared with adequate personal protective clothing and equipment. Workers must protect themselves from conditions including slippery work surfaces, cold temperatures, moisture and wind. Minimal skin exposure helps to reduce the chances of cold-related injuries. When selecting personal protective clothing and equipment, employers and workers should consider the following:

• Wear multiple layers of warm, breathable, loose fitting clothing.
• When choosing between fabrics, select wool, silk and most synthetics over cotton. “Cotton loses its insulation value when it becomes wet. Wool, silk and most synthetics, on the other hand, retain their insulation even when wet” (OSHA).
• Avoid tight fitting clothing to reduce the possibility of restricting blood circulation throughout the body.
• Reduce the cooling effect of the wind by wearing an easily removable windbreak garment.
• Provide special protection of the hands to maintain dexterity and prevent accidents. Below 60.8°F, special provisions for keeping hands warm must be provided if fine work will be done with bare hands for more than 10 to 20 minutes.
• If air temperature is 0°F or less, protect the hands with mittens and purchase tools designed to be used without taking off mittens.
• If heavy work is anticipated in the cold, ensure outer garments allow for easy ventilation to prevent wetting of inner layers by sweat.
• Wear hard hat liners or hats to prevent heat loss from the head.
• Wear face masks to reduce exposed skin in extreme conditions.
• Ensure boots are both insulated and waterproof.
• Ensure footwear has adequate traction on the walking or working surface. Some footwear traction devices designed to provide increased traction on ice and snow provide less traction on surfaces without ice or snow, which could lead to falls.
• Supply eye protection for outdoor work in snow and ice-covered terrain to guard against ultraviolet light, glare and blowing ice crystals.

The following items are examples of clothing and equipment that can provide protection from cold-related injuries and illnesses. Many other similar products are available.

NEESEVIZ^TM Class 3 Hi-Vis Lime Bomber Jacket

• Cost: $58.95 (verified 1/2014)
• Features: reflective material, removable polyester fleece liner, removable hood
• Material: PVC coated polyester
• Ideal for moderate to cold weather conditions
   

Milwaukee M12™ Cordless LITHIUM-ION Red Heated Jacket Kit

​(Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Tool)

• Soft Shell Material: 95% polyester, 5% spandex
• Heating Time: up to 6 hours
• Charge Time: 30 minutes
• Battery: rechargeable 12V lithium-ion
• Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Features: water and wind resistant, three different heating zones (right chest, left chest, back), three different heat settings
   

N-Ferno® 6877 3-Layer Winter Hard Hat Liner with Fire-Resistant Shell

Ergodyne Proflex® 876WP Hi-Vis Thermal Waterproof Gloves

(Photo courtesy of Ergodyne)

• Insulation: 40g 3M™ Thinsulate™ lining
• Features: breathable, waterproof, windproof
   

Men’s UA Base™ 2.0 Crew

• Cost: $54.99 (verified 1/2014)
• Weight: 4.7 oz
• Features: moisture wicking, quick-dry fabric, stretch fabric for mobility
   

Carhartt® Men's Extremes Zip-to-Waist Biberall/Arctic Quilt Lined

• Cost: $150.00 (verified 1/2014)
• Material: 1000-denier Cordura® nylon, lined in arctic-weight 100% quilted nylon polyester
• Features: water-repellant, double knee design to accommodate knee pads, foot to hip leg zippers
   

Fox River Steel-Toe Wick Dry® Crew Work Sock

• Cost: $13.00/ 2 pair (verified 1/2014)
• Material: 81% acrylic, 18% nylon, 1% spandex
• Features: moisture wicking, heavyweight, cold weather sock, cushioned sole
   

Carolina® Men’s 8” Steel Toe Waterproof Insulated Logger Boots

• Cost: $136.00
• Steel Toe
• Waterproof
• 600 Grams of Thinsulate™ Insulation
• Electric Hazard Rated
• One piece rubber lug outsole
   

Yaktrax® Walk and Pro Ice-Traction Devices

• Attaches to shoes or boots to provide traction and stability on snow and ice
• Weight: 2 to 4 ounces

STABILicersTM Maxx Ice Cleats

• Cost: $49.95
• Attaches to shoes or boots to provide traction and stability on snow and ice
• 34 cleats
• Case hardened steel or brass (softer and non-sparking)

ThermaCELL Remote-Controlled Heated Insoles

• 3 heat settings (no, heat, 100˚F,  and 111˚F)
• 5 hours of use per charge
• Wireless and remote-controlled without removing footwear
   

Working in a cold environment has been shown to reduce productivity in construction.  Protective clothing and equipment such as jackets, hats, gloves, and footwear traction devices will reduce the risk of cold-related injuries and illnesses and provide greater productivity when working in a cold environment.

Engineering controls are always superior to administrative controls, such as a cold stress prevention program, and personal protective equipment, such as gloves and clothing. Engineering solutions to consider include shelters to protect workers from environmental conditions and portable electric fan heaters to warm the work or break area. Whenever possible, shelters with electric heaters inside should be used for warm up breaks when permanent heated structures are not available. Heated vehicle cabs may also be used in place of heated shelters.

Taylor Kingston and Michael R. Cooper - Aria Environmental, Inc.
Bruce Lippy - CPWR