Turner Groundscare would like to thank all of you working outside to maintain our, Courses, pitches, Parks, Forests, and gardens and share our 10 Tips To Keep You Warm While Working Outside This Winter.
Working outside in winter is hard. And not just because it’s cold – wind, ice, rain, sleet, snow, cold, frost – winter can feel like a constant battle against the elements.
And if you work outside all day – for example, in the Groundscare Industry, Greenkeeping, or professional Gardening- you can’t sneak back inside to warm up.
If you are unable to stay warm your work will slow down, your joints will hurt, and your health will suffer (physically and mentally).
1. Start the day warm
It might seem obvious, but you can’t stay warm unless you are warm in the first place! Starting the day warm can be as simple as:
- Have a warm shower (if you’re a morning shower person)
- Pre-warm your clothes (in the airing cupboard or on a radiator)
- Have a warm breakfast (like porridge – breakfast can improve safety too)
2. Wear extra layers
In cold weather, you need extra layers for working outside. On the coldest days, you will want at least three layers protecting your torso and vital organs from the cold.
- Base Layer (second-skin)
- Mid Layer (insulation)
- Outer layer (weather protection)
Layering up is really useful for outdoor work because you can add and remove layers depending on the weather conditions and the physical intensity of your work. Is it starting to snow? Add a waterproof outer layer. Are you working up a sweat? Take off a layer to cool down.
Avoid cotton, especially in the base and outer layers. Cotton absorbs water (sweat, rain, snow)- this moisture will soak in and get you cold quickly.
3. Invest in Good work boots
Cold and numb feet are a common complaint amongst outdoor workers in winter. The ground is freezing, often covered in snow or ice, and your feet might be in contact with that surface for most of the day.
So how can you keep your feet warm outside in winter?
The simple place to start is an extra pair of socks! Remember what we said about layering? Well, that applies to feet too!
But socks are not your only weapon against cold feet! You might find the biggest difference when you switch to suitable footwear, you might need to size up to allow room for the extra socks. Try them on with your winter socks to find the right size – you don’t want your boots too loose and cause a trip hazard!
Invest in top quality waterproof work boots, like Buckbootz renowned for their strength, comfort, and durability whilst bringing new ideas and product developments to the premium safety boot sector.
6. keep your hands warm and dry
This is an obvious tip, but it’s still worth mentioning – wear gloves!
Most people work with their hands, whether you’re typing on a keyboard/screen, or shovelling snow. But if your hands get too cold, they won’t work. You will find it difficult to grip, feel, and do things with your fingers.
A good pair of thermal winter gloves will protect your hands from the outside and keep the heat inside.
7. Keep moving
Think about the times you can remember being cold outside. Was it when you were waiting for someone, talking to someone, or standing around for another reason?
When you work hard on a task, moving and getting things done, your body is pretty good at generating heat. On a sunny winter’s day, it might feel refreshing and – dare I say it? – enjoyable! But when you stand still, you cool down and start to feel the cold.
When you are outside in winter, the best way to stay warm is to keep moving – if you need to have a meeting or wait for something (or someone) to arrive, move indoors if you can – ideally somewhere heated.
8. Take a break from the cold
More rest breaks might sound bad for productivity, but the opposite is true in winter. If you are cold and miserable, your work rate will drop to a snail’s pace.
Ideally, you should have a heated rest area to take a break. If this isn’t possible, you should at least be able to go somewhere sheltered to get a break from the elements.
On really cold days, especially in the bad weather, you’ll need more frequent rest breaks to get you through the day, so you can:
- Warm-up
- Dry off
- Change wet clothes
- Eat and drink for energy
9. Eat warm meals and snacks
It takes a lot of energy to work outside in winter – to do the work and also to keep warm. A warm snack or meal can give you this energy and add much-needed warmth to your body.
So in winter, you can get away with eating a little more if you work outside!
When you hold that hot bowl or plate, warm food and snacks can keep your hands warm too.
If you work in a temporary workplace, like remote place – you might not have access to electricity or kitchen facilities to heat your food. Don’t have access to a kitchen or microwave at your workplace? Heat it at home and use an insulated lunch box and thermos flask to keep your food and drink warm until lunch/break time.
10. End the day warm
Hopefully, following the tips above, you will have kept warm at work – even though you are outside! But just like you started the day warm, now it’s time to end the day warm too.
It’s important to warm up after being outside in the cold, so you should get somewhere heated, change into warm and dry clothes, and enjoy a hot meal or drink.
Allow your body time to warm back up, keep your feet warm with slippers. Take a warm bath or shower if you need an extra heat boost.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOUTO LOOK AFTER OUR COURSES, PITCHES, PARKS AND GARDENS DURING THE COLD WINTER MONTHS FROM ALL OF US AT TURNER GROUNDSCARE MACHINERY!