Winter Weather Awareness and Readiness Plan

Winter weather is just around the corner and can create a variety of conditions including snow, ice, rain, and freezing temperatures. Each one of these weather conditions is associated with different hazards, but with a little bit of preparation and awareness, you can be safe in all kinds of weather. Below are things to keep in mind so you can be ready when winter weather hits.

Driving in winter weather can be dangerous. Your commute can take much longer when there is new snow on the roads. Ice can build up on roadways and bridges, making conditions slippery and treacherous. Winter tires can make a difference if you live in the north. In the south, rain can accumulate on roadways and cause your vehicle to hydroplane dangerously. Don’t drive across roads that are flooded. You could be swept away by a sudden surge.

It’s important to maintain a safe speed in bad weather. Allow extra space between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Avoid sudden stops and quick direction changes. Keep your windshield, windows, and mirrors clear. This can be accomplished while performing your 360 walk around. Always buckle your seat belt and make sure your passengers do too. Ensure someone knows your route and try to limit your travel to the day time. Avoid side roads.

Slips, Trips, and Falls can also be serious hazards during winter weather. Snow, ice, rain, and mud can accumulate on all kinds of surfaces: parking lots, sidewalks, walkways, steps, and ladders. Snow can also hide potential tripping hazards. Getting around safely can be a challenge. Walk carefully and always keep your eyes on your path. Avoid walking on wet or slippery surfaces whenever possible. Report slip and fall hazards when you encounter them. Wear appropriate footwear that will provide good traction. Give yourself extra time to get where you’re going. Wear eye protection to ensure that wind, rain, and snow don’t affect your ability to see clearly.

Cold-Related Illnesses can be avoided if you dress for weather. Layer your clothing. The inner layer should wick away moisture, the middle layer should absorb perspiration and retain warmth, and the outer layer should protect against wind and allow for some ventilation. Be sure to keep your feet and hands warm and dry. Bring a change of clothes to work so you can change into dry pants, gloves, or socks in case the things you are wearing get wet. Know the symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite. Take a break to get warm when you need to. Work with a partner and keep an eye on each other.

Hypothermia can become a deadly health condition. It occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat. When your body temperature drops to 95°F or below (normal temperature is 98.6) your heart, nervous system, and other major organs cannot work properly. This can lead to heart failure, respiratory failure, and death. Symptoms include clumsiness, lack of coordination, slurred speech, confusion, drowsiness, or a combination of these. Hypothermia requires immediate medical attention.

Frostbite occurs when the fluids and tissues of the skin freeze. It also requires immediate medical attention. Severe cases may require amputation of the frostbitten area. Frostbite most often affects the feet and hands. Symptoms include a cold, tingling, or stinging feeling, followed by a numbness in the affected area. Changes in skin color are also a sign of frostbite. If you suspect frostbite, do not rub the skin. Get medical attention immediately.

To prevent hypothermia and frostbite, dress in layers so that you can adjust your clothing as work and weather conditions change. Wear a wool or polyester cap, gloves, and waterproof boots. Again keep a dry change of clothes in case you get wet. Take frequent breaks to warm up, and watch your co-workers for symptoms of cold weather illnesses. 

Wind chill is the measure of how cold the air feels when taking into account the temperature as well as the wind, since it can make the apparent temperature considerably colder. Lower temperatures combined with higher wind speeds will make you more vulnerable to hypothermia and frostbite. Be sure to take this into account when making the determination of the possible outdoor temperatures and work durations.

Preventative Measures include: drinking plenty of liquids, avoiding caffeine and alcohol. It is easy to become dehydrated in cold weather. If possible, heavy work should be scheduled during the warmer parts of the day. Take breaks out of the cold and setup a work/warmup schedule. Try to work in pairs to keep an eye on each other and watch for signs of cold stress. Avoid fatigue since energy is needed to keep muscles warm. Take frequent breaks and consume warm, high calorie foods such as pasta to maintain energy reserves. Clear common pathways of snow and ice and put down a layer of sand or salt. Conduct regular inspections on your cold weather supplies to ensure you have plenty in stock.

Be Prepared for Winter Weather. Have a plan. You can protect your family, your home, and your car by planning ahead. Before the start of the winter season, create a home disaster supply kit that includes a weather radio in case you become isolated in your home due to weather conditions. Be sure your cell phone is charged or setup other means of communication. You should also keep a winter emergency kit in each of your vehicles. Make sure you have good winter tires with enough tread. Try to keep the gas tank at least half full in case heavy snow causes severe traffic delays or you need to drive to an emergency shelter and be sure to conduct regular maintenance on your vehicle.

October Near Misses

The contractor was stringing pipe up the ROW at our station. The excavator operator lifted a joint of 16" pipe off the semi-truck with the vacuum tool. The truck was being towed forward when the vac tool alarm sounded. The operator began swinging the pipe back and away from the truck to lower it to the ground. The vacuum lost its seal before completing this motion. The pipe was clear of the trailer and fell approx. nine feet to the ground. All personnel were clear of the suspended load. The Chief Inspector and contractor representative had inspected the vacuum tool seal and gauges in the morning. The Chief Inspector observed a satisfactory "test lift" at the start of operations.

The Chief Inspector stopped work and reviewed the Near Miss hazards with all personnel, the seal was inspected, and work resumed without incident.

A crew was working on installing the Jumper-line from the Launcher to the LACT on the pad. They bolted-up the spool piece to the MLV Valve and the Ball valve and set the bolted-up pieces on skids near the edge of the bell-hole to obtain measurements before installing the riser. The bolted-up piece was not tied into the LACT because the check valve was not available. The check valve was sent to Century Pump for the pin-up installation. The ground gave way and the spool-piece fell off the skids and into the bell hole. There were no workers present in the area at the time that this happened, but it could have been catastrophic had there been workers present.

We conducted a safety stand down with the crew about the potential severity of the incident and the outcomes that could have occurred. After the safety stand down, the valves were inspected for any damage. Valves were in good working order.

The contractor experienced a vacuum failure while stringing pipe today on the ROW. A contractor’s employee was operating an excavator equipped with a Vacuworx attachment transporting a 60’ joint of 4” pipe over timber mats on the ROW when the pipe abruptly fell from the attachment without emitting an audible alarm. All work was immediately halted, and onsite contractors/inspection gathered to investigate the incident. Contractors associated with this stringing task were out of the line of fire as body positioning precautions were discussed in detail by the chief and contractor supervision in the morning safety meeting. A second suction seal inspection and leak-down check was conducted with satisfactory results immediately following the near miss. The piping lacks rigidity due to the longer 60’ length and smaller 4” diameter of which leads to excessive bounce when traversing uneven terrain, thought to be the reason for vacuum failure.

A safety stand-down was held with the entire project detailing the near miss with extreme emphasis on proper body positioning, complacency and the possibility of failure when utilizing mechanical equipment. The pipe did not sustain any metal or coating damage as a result of this event.

An electrician was observed attempting to raise a wire spool jack with a shovel handle instead of an iron bar as required. The electrician's GF was assisting with the task.

Work was stopped and both were coached on the line of fire situation should the handle fail. They went to the tool room and got the proper bar.

We are pleased to announce that we have partnered up with Boot Barn to offer all Applied Consultants inspectors a 15% discount on all purchases “work related” from the Boot Barn, Nation Wide. Be sure to tell them you work for Applied Consultants and use the key word: “Safety First” to receive the discount. 

API1169 Test Dates:

December 4 - 18, 2020
Registration Deadline: October 2nd, 2020

October Winners

Platinum - Joey Brazil
Gold - Jason Horton
Silver - Chris Courtney
Bronze - Emmett Ross
Bronze - Travis Metz
Bronze - Kris Haraldson

If you have been selected as newsletter Q&A winner, please click this link and select your prize(s) from your winning category.