Winterization: Providing personnel with the right gear

As winter approaches, you should assess how well your plant is protected from problems that frigid conditions can pose. Heat-tracing, deadlegs, and other equipment-related aspects certainly require attention. Chemical Processingarticles, e.g., “Get Ready for the Next Big Freeze,” and “Time to Prepare for Winter,”  provide useful pointers. Other valuable references include a vintage video from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, “Prevent Accidents During Subfreezing Weather,”  and the blog post “Winter Weather Dangers: Why Winterizing is Crucial for Chemical Plants."

The risk of personnel slipping or falling increases in the winter, as noted in “Winter-proof Your Workplace to Prevent Slips and Falls." Indeed, I am reminded of an incident many years ago involving someone in our department who had a limp. She stepped out of her car on one foot, slipped on some ice and broke her femur.

Let’s look at another aspect that often doesn’t get adequate attention — providing personnel with suitable clothing and other gear.

To learn more, read "Safety: Winterization Goes Beyond Equipment" from Chemical Processing.