OSHA advises caution when working outside

Delaware Electric Cooperative asks for public’s help

By Logan B. Anderson
Posted 1/10/22

The forecast for the next few days may not include any new snow events but freezing temperatures could still create dangerous conditions for workers forced to be outside. On Friday, the Occupational …

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OSHA advises caution when working outside

Delaware Electric Cooperative asks for public’s help

Posted

The forecast for the next few days may not include any new snow events but freezing temperatures could still create dangerous conditions for workers forced to be outside. On Friday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration urged employers to be vigilant and be sure to care for their staff facing frigid conditions.

“What OSHA is looking at is working safely in the cold weather. Because of the snow we’ve had recently across Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic region, we are looking to employers to prevent workplace hazards,” said Dalia Nichols, assistant area director of OSHA’s Wilmington Area Office. “Those hazards can be slippery roads, surfaces, any strong winds or the environmental cold itself. Outdoor workers can be exposed to frostbite, hypothermia and cold stress, all of which can be fatal.”

As of Friday evening, OSHA officials hadn’t seen any work-related fatalities due to the recent storms but want to urge employers to take precautions.

“Cold stress is a primary concern,” Ms. Nichols said.

According to OSHA leaders, cold stress occurs by driving down the skin temperature, and eventually the internal body temperature. When the body is unable to warm itself, serious cold-related illnesses and injuries may occur, and permanent tissue damage and death may result. Types of cold stress include: trench foot, frostbite and hypothermia.

Ms. Nichols said a major safety tool is training.

Last Monday’s storm knocked out power to nearly 37,000 Delaware Electric Cooperative members. The outages forced DEC employees out in the frigid temperatures and driving wind to repair damage caused by the winter storm.

Jeremy Tucker, spokesman for DEC, said training is the electric cooperative’s employees’ first line of defense.

“Our commitment to safety begins the minute a new employee walks through the doors of DEC with a general overview of our safety protocols. Employees with jobs that require them to work near or on electrical equipment receive specialized training. All employees are required to take part in monthly safety meetings covering various topics such as driving in dangerous winter conditions and administering first aid for cold weather issues like frostbite. Linemen at DEC undergo five years of intense training — as you can imagine part of that training involves working in adverse weather conditions,” Mr. Tucker said.

Per OSHA guidelines, DEC employees out in the field take regular breaks to warm up and are not allowed to work more than 16 hours.

“After 16 hours, they must rest for eight hours before going back to work. Employees working on the lines are in constant contact with our dispatch center and crew chiefs keep an eye on their teams,” Mr. Tucker said.

DEC’s employees and OSHA’s safety recommendations are crafted for all kinds of weather.

“While the weather this week was dangerous to work in, our employees often work in hazardous conditions. They respond to problems during blizzards, hurricanes, severe thunderstorms and summer days when temperatures are in the triple digits. It’s a team effort to ensure the safety of our DEC family and it’s our priority every day, regardless of weather conditions,” Mr. Tucker said.

Mr. Tucker said the public can also help keep linemen and other workers responding to weather emergencies safe.

“If you see crews working along the side of the road, please slow down or move over into another lane. We’ve seen too many drivers putting our linemen at risk while they are working to restore power. We also encourage people to stay off the roads as much as possible during storms like the one we experienced this week. When drivers get stuck and block local roads, it creates another obstacle for linemen and can prevent crews from reaching areas where power needs to be restored,” he said.

For more information and tips about working in the cold temperature, visit OSHA’s website here.

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