Winter is already here

During winter, it can turn pretty cold in Finland. Tempe­ra­tures below minus 20 centi­grade are not unusual at all.

10.2.2021

Working in cold tempe­ra­tures is part of the job for many people. This may create hazards that could be avoided with a good preparation.

The Occupa­tional Safety and Health Act stipu­lates that the employer shall ”syste­ma­tically and adequa­tely analyse and identify the hazards and risk factors caused by the work”. This also includes risks caused by working in cold temperatures.

If the hazards identi­fied in this analysis cannot be elimi­nated, the employer must assess their consequences for the emplo­yees’ health and safety. When doing this, occupa­tional health care can help. The employer must also provide personal protec­tive equip­ment for the workers, when needed.

Members of the Industrial Union work under a wide variety of working condi­tions, both indoor and outdoor. The union collec­tive agree­ments do not define any exact tempe­ra­ture when outdoor work is stopped due to the cold, or heat.

In the mecha­nical forestry industry and sheet and industrial insula­tion branch sectors the working condi­tions are assessed locally and when needed, limita­tions to work can be agreed upon. If weather condi­tions bring work to a halt, emplo­yees have the right to earnings-related unemplo­y­ment benefit.

In all other sectors of the union the employer pays wages if work is stopped due to the cold.

Why has the Industrial Union not demanded an exact tempe­ra­ture limit for work? The main reason is to protect emplo­yees’ health in all condi­tions. When evalua­ting the effects of tempe­ra­ture all aspects must be taken into account.

The real effect of tempe­ra­ture on the human body is connected to humidity and wind factors. A dry winter day does not feel as bad on our skin as a cold and humid day. The combi­na­tion of cold air tempe­ra­tures and strong winds, the so-called wind chill factor, can make even a modera­tely cold tempe­ra­ture feel intolerable.

For example, a tempe­ra­ture of minus 10 centi­grade feels like minus 20 centi­grade with a wind of ten meters per second. With a similar wind, a tempe­ra­ture of minus 20 centi­grade feels like minus 34 centigrades.

The union stresses the need to find technical solutions against cold. These can be for example a warmed tent when repai­ring equip­ment on the road or a warm booth when fixing the telecom­mu­nica­tions connections.

The first thing an employer should do is to identify the effects and hazards of cold and find technical solutions to protect emplo­yees, if needed. Personal protec­tive equip­ment should only be used as a last resort.

The task of occupa­tional health is to see whether persons working in cold need some extra health checks.

TEXT HEIKKI JOKINEN