If you run a business in Canada, winter isn’t just a season—it’s a stress test. Cold snaps, icy parking lots, white-out highways, frozen pipes, power dips, vehicles that won’t start, and workers hustling between indoor and outdoor tasks. If you don’t plan for it, winter will plan for you.
This guide is a practical, plain-language walkthrough of what to do before the snow flies and while it’s dumping. It’s written for Canadian employers and supervisors who want compliance and calm. It leans on Canadian legislation and best practice—then goes a step further with real-world, do-this-next advice. And if you want a partner to take this off your plate, Calgary Safety Consultants (https://calgarysafetyconsultants.ca) can build and implement the whole program with you.
Cold exposure changes how the body regulates heat. Add wind and moisture and your workers lose heat faster than they can generate it—upping the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) calls out the three big stressors in cold environments: air temperature, wind speed, and humidity (wetness). Control those, manage work/rest cycles, and insulate the body, and you dramatically reduce risk.
And then there’s wind chill. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s wind chill index translates temperature + wind into what exposed skin actually “feels.” A -10°C day with serious wind can hit like -20°C on your face—which matters for frostbite timelines and your work-warm-up planning.
In Alberta, winter readiness sits on familiar pillars: hazard assessment (Part 2), emergency preparedness (Part 7), and PPE (Part 18) of the OHS Code. Practically, that means you must identify cold-related hazards before work, document controls, involve workers, and make sure the emergency response plan and PPE fit winter realities (visibility, traction, warmth, and safe vehicle operation).
Not in Alberta? The principles are the same across provinces and territories: assess hazards, implement controls starting with elimination/substitution/engineering before relying on PPE, and ensure your ERP covers winter emergencies (power outages, heating failures, severe weather, medical response).
1) Hazard assessment that actually changes what you do
Don’t just add “cold weather” to a line in your JHA and call it done. Break winter hazards out by job task and environment:
Document controls, record the revision date, and involve your workers—they’ll tell you where it actually gets sketchy. (In AB, see OHS Code Part 2 ss.7–9.)
What changes after a good winter hazard assessment?
Work/warm-up schedules; heated shelters on site; mandatory hi-vis outerwear; traction footwear/cleats; snow/ice removal frequency; speed limits for yard vehicles; and stop-work thresholds tied to wind chill. CCOHS summarizes ACGIH guidance: at wind-chill temperatures around –7°C, provide heated warming areas; at ≤ –12°C, incorporate work-warm cycles.
2) Winter PPE that people actually wear
Layering is your friend: moisture-wicking base, insulating mid-layer, wind/water-resistant shell. Add hi-vis that stays visible in the dark (short days, long nights). In Canada, look for CSA Z96 high-visibility apparel to ensure the garment’s background and retroreflective materials perform in low light—critical for yards, lots, and roadside work.
Footwear matters. If your injury logs spike with slips between November–March, grip and cleats become engineering/admin controls, not optional perks. For eye/face and respiratory protection, ensure selections remain compliant with Part 18 and referenced standards (e.g., CSA Z94.3 eye and face; written respiratory program when RPE is required). Cold affects seals and user fit, so redo fit checks and training for winter conditions.
3) Facilities and engineering controls
4) Winter driving program (for anyone who drives on your time)
Transport Canada is clear: winter tires on all wheels, adequate tread depth, and attention to tire pressures as temperatures drop. Build policies that define when to delay, reroute, or cancel trips based on conditions. Don’t rely on “experienced drivers”—give them procedures, vehicle checklists, and permission to stop. Add a pre-trip checklist (battery, lights, wipers, washer fluid, scraper, brush, shovel, booster cables, blanket, first aid kit). For energy sector or remote work, align with Energy Safety Canada guidance on readiness and contingency planning.
Where driving is a major hazard (deliveries, service techs, field crews), train supervisors to apply go/no-go decisions and journey management. BC data show winter months account for a disproportionate chunk of work-related crashes—don’t wait for your own incident curve to prove the point.
5) Emergency preparedness that fits winter realities
Your Emergency Response Plan (ERP) must identify winter emergencies (medical response to cold stress, severe weather shelter-in-place, power/heat loss, stranded drivers, road closures) and spell out equipment, roles, training, communications, and drills. Alberta’s Part 7 lists mandatory ERP elements—use it as a checklist even outside Alberta. Make sure your ERP addresses how to reach people if cell networks lag and how to evacuate when pathways are snowed in or icy.
Cold stress develops faster with wet clothing, wind, low caloric intake, dehydration, fatigue, and certain medical conditions. Train supervisors to spot early symptoms: shivering, fumbling, slurred speech, clumsy gait, confusion. Establish a “no heroics” culture—workers are encouraged to call time when dexterity or feeling drops. CCOHS provides straightforward first-aid guidance for hypothermia and frostbite (insulation from ground, wrap, rewarm torso, protect head/neck, prompt medical care). Build those steps into your ERP and first-aid training refreshers.
Tip: Post a simple wind chill → action chart in the lunchroom and on the safety board (e.g., “At –20 to –28 wind chill: warm-up shelter every X minutes; face/ear protection mandatory; hot liquids encouraged.”). Tie it to Environment Canada’s wind chill guidance to keep it consistent site-to-site.
They happen on the five metres between the vehicle and the door. Your controls:
Your yard, your rules. Extend winter controls to contractors and couriers: mandatory hi-vis, defined routes, parking restrictions, speed limits, and check-in procedures during storms. Provide a winter safety briefing at the gate or reception. If their work becomes your risk (e.g., roofers clearing snow), your hazard assessment and ERP should include theirs—require their cold-weather plan up front. (The same hazard-assessment principles apply: identify, control, document, communicate.)
You don’t need another binder that nobody reads. You need a lean, living winter program that supervisors can run in real time. Here’s what we do:
Ready to get winter-ready? Reach out at https://calgarysafetyconsultants.ca and we’ll tailor a plan to your sites, crews, and budget.
Winter is predictable in one sense: it will be cold, dark, and slippery. It’s unpredictable in the details: when the storm hits, which truck won’t start, who slips where, and how wind chill turns a routine task into a risk. A smart winter plan narrows that unpredictability. If you design your controls for real conditions—not just a policy—you’ll see fewer incidents and faster days.
If you want help, Calgary Safety Consultants will build or refresh your winter program, train your people, and stay on call all season. That’s one less thing to worry about when the first Arctic air mass parks over your yard.
Connect with us here and let us help you improve your OH&S practices.
(If you operate outside Alberta, we’ll cross-walk your winter plan to your province or territory’s OHS rules. The controls above still apply—your paperwork just changes slightly.)
Cold stress (hypothermia/frostbite), slips/trips/falls, winter driving collisions, reduced visibility, and power/heat loss events. A task-based hazard assessment should drive controls, not a generic “it’s cold” note.
Use wind chill thresholds to trigger warm-up frequency and mandatory face/hand protection. Post a simple chart (e.g., –12°C and below = scheduled warm-ups) and train supervisors to enforce it.
Layered clothing (wicking base, insulating mid-layer, wind/water-resistant shell), CSA Z96 hi-vis outerwear, insulated/grippy footwear or traction aids where appropriate, and cold-compatible eye/face/respiratory protection with anti-fog practices.
Calgary Safety Consultants is here to help you ensure compliance, enhance safety, and streamline your OH&S program. Don’t wait—fill out the form, and we’ll connect with you to discuss how we can support your business. Let’s get started!
Calgary Safety Consultants delivers game-changing COR Audits and OH&S consulting designed to keep your business safe, compliant, and accident-free. With 30+ years of expertise in high-risk industries like oil & gas, construction, and manufacturing, we understand the unique challenges you face. We offer tailored safety solutions that not only meet regulatory standards but also reduce operational risks and protect your workforce. From conducting thorough safety audits to implementing comprehensive safety management systems, we ensure your team is fully supported. Our hands-on, collaborative approach means we're with you every step of the way, helping you achieve a safer, more efficient workplace. Let us handle the heavy lifting so your team stays protected, and your business thrives!
