What are the specific risks for cold weather?

Staff working in very low temperatures, ice and snow can present the risk of hypothermia, frostbite, and increased risk of slips and falls.

When people are too cold practical steps can be taken to keep people as comfortable as possible when working in the cold: The University can:

• provide adequate workplace heating, to ensure work areas are warm enough when they are occupied

• design processes that minimise exposure to cold areas and cold products

• reduce draughts while still keeping adequate ventilation

• provide insulating floor coverings or special footwear when workers have to stand for long periods on cold floors

• provide appropriate protective clothing for cold environments.

The University can also:

• limit exposure by introducing systems such as flexible working patterns or job rotation

• provide enough breaks to allow workers to get hot drinks or warm up in heated areas.

Guidance is available on the Health and Safety Executive website on hot and cold temperatures in the workplace. 

Weather forecast information including severe weather warnings can be obtained from the UK Met' Office website.  

There is also a homepage that lists the range of Health and Safety risks identified as relevant to the University's activities and facilities, together with information on the University's policies and arrangements on how these risks are to be managed and controlled.