Braving the Chill: Preparing Healthcare Teams for Winter Hazards

By: Scott Cormier, Vice President of Emergency Management, Environment of Care and Safety, Medxcel

From deep freezes to snowstorms, the winter season poses significant challenges that interfere with maintaining operations and ensuring the safety of all individuals within a healthcare facility. While workplace safety is a year-round priority, it becomes more pressing during winter due to increased environmental hazards.

Ahead of the upcoming season, weather analysts are warning of unpredictable weather patterns across the U.S., even in regions like the South that traditionally experience milder winters. The uncertainty exacerbates the need for thorough preparation. To ensure employees are well-equipped to face harsh weather conditions, the following questions can help guide strategic planning discussions for facility leaders.

What will your team need in order to respond appropriately to severe weather?

One of the most important steps in supporting employees through cold weather and emergencies is considering solutions for potential hazards and disruptions that may impact the team. For instance, using deicer and ensuring all facility access points are clear of snow allows workers to access the facility safely during and following a snowstorm.

Facility teams will also need to know how to confidently respond during the initial stages of an emergency. Outlining consistent procedures within an all-hazards plan is best practice to standardize the process for any given emergency and support the team in identifying the level of response the situation necessitates. Leaders should also outline which workers are essential to support operations during a crisis and develop a plan to determine when the severity of weather conditions warrants evacuating the facility entirely. Partnering with a meteorology service provider to gain more detailed and accurate predictions for the precise location can be instrumental when it comes to making this decision.

Which factors pose the greatest risks for your health system?

By conducting risk assessments, leaders can pinpoint the top hazards impacting workforce safety within their facilities. According to OSHA, significant risk factors include downed power lines, slippery surfaces, and more. In addition to working on mitigating these risks, leaders should evaluate their health system’s insurance coverage to prepare to manage financial and legal complications in the event that one of these risk factors leads to harm.

Location will play a significant role in how facility teams need to prepare for winter hazards. Facilities in the Northeast and Midwest know to anticipate heavy snow and below-freezing temperatures every year. Their facilities are built to withstand the cold, and their teams are familiar with maintaining safe operations when temperatures drop. On the other hand, health systems in the South tend to see less severe weather conditions this time of year, making their employees and buildings more vulnerable to winter hazards when they do occur.

How will you train your team to prevent and manage hazards?

Effective training going into the winter season allows the facility team to gain confidence in mitigating risks and responding to situations to maintain a safe physical environment. Creating a culture of compliance by establishing expectations and outlining the reasoning behind procedures helps to proactively integrate safety practices into everyday operations.

For employees working outside, training on how to recognize warning signs of losing body heat is crucial to prevent cold stress complications, such as hypothermia and frostbite. This is especially important in areas where facility teams are less accustomed to freezing temperatures because they are at the highest risk.

Taking a proactive approach to workplace safety is crucial heading into the winter season. When facilities prioritize employee wellness and purposefully work to prevent harm from seasonal hazards, the organization is better equipped to operate smoothly. Through effective preparation, risk assessments, and training programs, healthcare organizations can promote a safe workplace environment to withstand inclement winter weather.

Scott Cormier is the Vice President of Emergency Management, Environment of Care and Safety at Medxcel, an integrated facilities management organization with a sole focus on healthcare. Cormier specializes in facilities management, safety, environment of care, and emergency management and provides healthcare service support that drives in-house capabilities, savings, and efficiencies that improve the overall healing environment for patients and staff. Cormier leads the development and implementation of emergency management, general safety, and accident-prevention programs for the national network of hospitals that Medxcel serves.