Winter is officially on its way – the clocks have gone back for another year, paving the way for darker mornings and longer nights to set in over the coming weeks.

While the changing of the clocks may be considered by many as being nothing more than an habitual task, it’s a task that has the potential to significantly impact safety, productivity and compliance across UK-wide construction sites. And when you combine shorter daylight hours with wintry weather, the potential impact and risks are magnified on multiple levels.

According to the latest set of 2023 Construction Statistics published by the Health and Safety Executive, there were 45 fatal injuries in 2022/23 and 53,000 non-fatal work-related injuries between 2020 and 2023. Falling from a height (51%), being trapped (12%) and being struck by a moving/falling objective (10%) were the top three causes of fatal injuries. Meanwhile, slips, trips and falls (26%), falling from a height (20%) and being injured while lifting or carrying something (17%) were the top three non-fatal injuries.

While all of these reported injuries haven’t been specifically linked to fewer daylight hours and wintry weather conditions, they are an important reminder about the importance of adopting a safety-first outlook at all times.

The dos and don’ts of adopting a safety-first outlook this winter

Working in dark, wet, cold and icy working conditions is inevitable for construction workers during the winter. However, there are certain best practice measures that can be followed to minimise risk and comply with the latest health and safety standards, as revealed by Algeco UK’s HSE Director, Mike Shakeshaft:

Do: Inspect your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Shorter days = workers operating in darker working environments where PPE is essential for safely standing out amongst colleagues and vehicles. But if your PPE’s covered in dirt, then you’re at risk of blending in. Give your PPE a thorough clean, and if it can’t be cleaned, replace it. At the same time, check your shoes – they must be suitable for the site conditions, in a good condition and have plenty of grip left on them.

Don’t: Forget to review your lighting systems

Additional lighting, temporary and permanent, is key for boosting visibility, particularly first thing in the morning and late afternoon. Check your lights are in good working order and fit for purpose, i.e. are giving off adequate levels of illumination for the work at hand. Indoor UK lighting levels are governed by standards, including BS EN 12464-1:2011. Meanwhile, outdoor lighting should be provided in accordance with standards, such as BS EN 12464-2:2014. Lighting levels should be factored into all workplace/area risk assessments.

Do: Winter-proof your fleet

Make sure all site vehicles and machinery are kitted out with adequate lighting (both the headlights and beacons), the reflective markings are kept clean and are free from defects, and the tyres have adequate tread on them.

Don’t: Overlook your battery-powered systems and tools

In addition to checking your fleet, inspect your systems and tools too, particularly if they’re battery-powered. Are they still operating at full power? Are all of the wires and components damage-free? And, more importantly, are the batteries giving off a full charge or do they need replacing?

Do: Remind your staff about the importance of staying safe

It can be easy for health and safety to be overlooked when everybody’s working hard on getting the job done, especially if they’re all focused on meeting an urgent deadline. Keeping health and safety at the forefront of workers’ minds is essential in helping keep accidents to an absolute minimum. Additional health and safety briefings are a must in the deepest, darkest depths of winter.

Don’t: Be rigid with your work schedules

Adjust your work schedules to make sure they align with the available daylight hours and review and monitor the working outputs vs. sunrise and sunset timings on a weekly basis. This is particularly important for employees who predominantly work outside. At the same time, make sure everybody gets to take a break, as scheduled, and provide hot drinks, as well as access to warm and dry welfare areas.

Do: Keep tabs on the weather

Regularly monitoring the weather forecast will enable you to accurately plan for colder, wetter or foggier conditions, as well as guarantee workers are all geared up for the weather too. Pre-plan vehicle routes and off-site work according to the weather and check the road conditions. For instance, high winds can impact the stability of trucks transporting heavy loads within open and exposed areas.

Don’t: Neglect your walkways, scaffolding and work surfaces

Reduced light and wet and icy conditions can lead to an increased risk of slips, trips and falls. Make sure all walkways, scaffolding and work surfaces are secure and well-lit, and install barriers around excavations, ditches and trenches, which can easily become covered in a blanket of snow, immediately turning them into a major hazard.

Do: Assess your site traffic management plans

In addition to adjusting your work schedules to reflect the shorter days, amend your site traffic management plans too. This can easily be achieved by making sure signage is clear and strategically placed and that all pathways are illuminated for vehicles, workers and pedestrians, especially at crossing points.

Don’t: Get caught out in an emergency

As obvious as this may sound, make sure your emergency procedures account for reduced visibility and colder weather conditions and that your First Aid supplies are well-stocked for potential cold-related incidents and injuries.

We hope you’ve found this guidance useful and that it acts as a helpful reminder on the importance of retaining a safety-first outlook at all times, even when there are additional seasonal challenges to contend with.

For further details about Algeco UK’s commitment to working to the highest health and safety standards, visit: https://www.algeco.co.uk/permanent/health-and-safety