Cold Weather Workplace Safety: Autumn & Winter Tips

23rd October 2025

Many organisations, including those in the Third Sector, need to manage additional risks during autumn and winter. Darker conditions, icy paths, and increased rainfall can all impact service delivery, staff safety, volunteer engagement and operations. Let us take you through some key information and practical tips to support you.

1. Weather Risks and Seasonal Planning

For example, outdoor services such as gardening, nature-based activities, or community outreach face greater exposure to cold, wet, or icy environments.

✅ Tips for Managing Weather-Related Risks

• Review your risk profile: Start the year with a clear understanding of your health and safety priorities. A Risk Profile helps identify compliance gaps and focus your resources effectively. Our H&S Advice Service can guide you through this process.

• Include seasonal hazards in risk assessments: Update workplace risk assessments to account for autumn and winter conditions – both indoors and outdoors.

• Create an emergency procedure for severe weather: Plan how to respond to events such as power outages, flooding, or heavy snow. Consider how your organisation will handle travel disruptions or temporary building closures.

• Use our templates: The HR Advice Service offers a ready-to-use Managing Severe Weather policy to help you plan ahead and is available to subscribers!

2. Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls

Slips, trips, and falls are the most common cause of workplace injuries – and the risk rises significantly in wet, icy, or low-light conditions.

✅ Reduce Slips, Trips and Falls This Winter

• Grit proactively: Introduce a safety procedure to apply grit to footpaths, entrances, and car parks before ice forms.
• Keep walkways clear: Regularly remove wet leaves, debris, and snow. Implement a simple “see it, clear it” policy.
• Use safety signage effectively: Display “Caution – Wet Floor” and “Slippery Surface” signs when hazards exist. Be sure to remove them once risks are resolved.
• Check lighting: Ensure all internal and external lighting is functioning properly, especially in car parks, entrances, and high-traffic areas.
• Use high-visibility clothing: Require outdoor workers and drivers to wear high-vis garments to improve visibility in low light.

3. Safer Driving for Work

Adverse weather increases the risk of road accidents, so special precautions are necessary where you have employees who drive for work purposes.

✅ Essential Winter Driving Safety Tips

• Include winter driving in your risk assessment and communicate clear expectations to staff.
• Regular vehicle checks: Ensure that your tyres, antifreeze, lights, and wipers are all in good working order. Encourage pre-use checks using a simple checklist.
• Plan journeys carefully: Staff should check weather and road conditions before setting off, share routes, and provide estimated arrival times.
• Drive safely: Encourage reduced speeds, increased stopping distances, and cancellation of non-essential travel when conditions are dangerous.
• Carry a winter kit: Each vehicle should include essentials like a torch, first aid kit, warm clothing, and water.

4. Protecting Outdoor Workers in Cold Weather

Staff who work outdoors in cold weather face additional risks. Consider their health, safety and wellbeing with these tips.

✅ Keep Outdoor Staff Safe and Warm

• Provide suitable PPE: Supply thermal clothing, insulated footwear, hats, and gloves.
• Offer more frequent breaks: Provide access to mobile warming shelters or hot drinks where possible.
• Recognise cold stress: Cold stress occurs when the body’s core temperature and skin temperature drop, leading to serious and potentially fatal conditions if not managed. Train staff to spot the signs.
• Support vulnerable workers: Consider additional precautions for those with health conditions or who are more susceptible to cold.
• Reschedule non-essential outdoor work: Aim for warmer times of day, defer tasks when severe weather is forecast, and consider whether any tasks should be delayed for warmer months.

5. Winter Building Maintenance and Facilities Safety

Cold weather can cause significant damage to buildings and infrastructure if not properly maintained. Ensuring your workplace is safe and functional also helps protect staff and service users.

✅ Winter Building Safety Checklist

• Monitor workplace temperature: Regulations require a reasonable temperature – minimum 16°C for most work, or 13°C for strenuous activity.
• Service heating systems early: Schedule maintenance for boilers and heating systems before winter starts.
• Balance warmth and ventilation: Ensure good air circulation to reduce illness without creating uncomfortable draughts.
• Inspect gutters and pipes: Clear leaves and debris, and insulate external pipes to prevent freezing or bursting.
• Know your emergency shut-offs: Ensure staff know how to turn off gas, water, and electricity if needed.
• Check weather updates: Follow Met Office warnings and have a plan in place for responding to severe weather alerts.

Stay Safe and Prepared This Winter

Planning ahead is the best way to protect your people, premises, and services during the colder months.

By updating risk assessments, reviewing HR policies, and ensuring proper maintenance, your organisation can stay safe, compliant, and resilient throughout autumn and winter.

To discuss the needs of your charity or voluntary organisation, please contact us by email on peopleservices@gcvs.org.uk or call us on 0141 354 6515.