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As the UK temperature plummets, Great Britain's safety watchdog has refreshed its guidance to make it easier to find and understand advice on how to protect workers in low temperatures.
The regulator says low temperatures and less daylight mean winter can make surfaces 'perilous' and significantly increase the risk of slip and trip accidents.
The Health and Safety Executive said the weather can have a 'serious impact' on workers' health if the risks have not been properly managed. The weather can also affect a worker’s ability to keep safe, for example when handling machinery, it said.
Employers should ensure the personal protective equipment (PPE) issued is 'appropriate', provide mobile facilities for warming up and soup or hot drinks, and introduce more frequent rest breaks, said the regulator.
Employers should also consider delaying work until warmer times of the year without compromising on safety, and make sure workers can recognise the early symptoms of cold stress, such as a cough or body aches, according to the HSE.
