The Alaska Occupational Safety and Health is reminding employers that exposure to freezing conditions can quickly lead to hypothermia, frostbite, and other cold-related health hazards if proper precautions are not taken.
To reduce risk, employers are encouraged to move tasks indoors whenever possible and limit outdoor exposure during the coldest periods. When outdoor work is unavoidable, officials recommend providing warm, sheltered break areas and scheduling frequent warming breaks to help workers maintain safe body temperatures.
Special attention is being urged for youth workers, who may be more vulnerable to cold stress. Employers are advised to ensure younger employees receive adequate training, are properly supervised, and are equipped with appropriate cold-weather clothing and gear.
AKOSH officials emphasized that preventing cold stress is part of maintaining a safe workplace and should be addressed through an employer’s Hazard Communication Program. Detailed guidance on cold stress hazards and prevention is available through required Physical Agent Data Sheets (PADs), which outline risks and protective measures for cold environments.
More information and resources for employers can be found on the AKOSH website at labor.alaska.gov/lss/pads/cold.htm.
Also read: Extreme Cold Warning and Cold Weather Advisory Issued Across Much of Alaska
Safety officials say proactive planning and awareness can help keep workers safe throughout Alaska’s harsh winter conditions, stressing that protecting employees from cold stress is essential to preventing serious injuries and illnesses.
