Building in Winter: Don’t Let the Weather Win

Building infrastructure like roadways and water lines in the winter brings slick, freezing, sloppy, and all-around unpleasant conditions, but don't let the weather win. We got some quick Pro Tips and Watch Outs from our experienced and resilient Roadway and Utilities Engineering teams!??

Working in the Elements to Keep Projects Off the Slippery Slopes??

In the infrastructure work we do at E.L. Robinson, there’s no way around being in the elements. There are implications for both the humans doing the work and the quality and momentum of the projects. And these are not projects that can just wait for better weather. People and communities depend on continued progress, but we must keep our team safe and quality as sound as ever.??

Tips and Watchouts from our Pros About Working Outside??

Watch Out: Icy and slick roadways, construction sites, tracks, ladders, scaffolding, steps, etc.??

Pro Tips:??

- Watch what is happening around you. Mark your work area clearly and follow all safety precautions.??

- Replace tires before winter, especially if your vehicle’s tires are worn.??

- Cover equipment and items or place them inside if possible.??

Watch Out: Wardrobe matters but fashion doesn’t. Stay alert, and don’t ignore warning signs of danger.??

Pro Tips:??

- Dress appropriately for the assigned task; advanced planning is a must.??

- When wearing insulated clothing during cold weather, you may not notice as quickly if you become wet, possibly creating a greater risk of frostbite or hypothermia.??

- Be aware of the distance to a warm location and consider waterproof clothing. However, wearing too much waterproof clothing creates a greater fire hazard.??

Watch Out: Treacherous walkways can cause all kinds of danger or delay.??

Pro Tips:??

- Winter months are typically the wetter months, so job sites are usually muddy in addition to the potential for icy conditions. This causes unstable work areas.??

- From your boots getting stuck in the mud on an earthwork job to slipping across a frozen walkway on a bridge project, quality walkways are an issue during winter months.??

- Extra time and effort must be taken to prepare a job site for these conditions.??

- In certain cases, wet or muddy areas are actually easier to access if the ground is frozen.??

Building in Winter from the Inside Out: The Team Behind the Scenes??

It’s not just the folks working in the elements that make our projects tick. There are people in offices, control stations, and remote locations who may not be inside but still need to be conscientious and cautious.??

Tips and Watchouts from our Pros About Working Inside??

Watch Out: Access, cover, and backup are essential but not guaranteed unless you plan for them.??

Pro Tips:??

- If working alone (at a booster station building, for example), you step outside, and the door closes and locks behind you with your coat, keys, phone, etc., inside. This could create a temperature hazard that you are unprepared for. Dress for the elements, even if it’s momentary, and keep critical items in your pockets.??

- Stash an additional key for your vehicle or the entrance to the area in which you are working.??

- Designate a person to check in with or check on during such a situation.??

- When working inside, you adapt to the environment. When exiting the indoor area, be prepared for the elements, icy parking lots, overhanging ice, etc.??

Watch Out: Weather affects operations, including planning, lead times, and uptime.??

Pro Tips:??

- Plan for longer lead times for materials and labor. This is virtually inevitable. Do not expect the same production during colder weather as you do in the “Construction Season”??

- Try to have more advanced planning due to adverse weather conditions.??

- Holidays can also be complicating or delaying factors.??

Don’t Get Iced: Plan Ahead for Technology Meltdowns??

Watch Out: Maintenance matters - better safe than sorry.??

Pro Tips:??

- Equipment such as Horizontal Directional Drills require winterizing at the end of each shift during cold weather.??

- Most construction equipment runs on diesel fuel, which, when not properly treated, will freeze during the winter. This will result in lost production and possibly expensive repairs. This is easily overlooked during the first segment of cold weather.??

- Protect your inspection instruments. Concrete testing equipment, such as air meters, has parts that freeze up during testing in low temperatures. Density/moisture gauges will work in colder temperatures, but this is definitely not good for the gauge's electrical components.??

Suit Up for Safety & Manage Expectations When Building in Winter Weather??

Building in winter rarely stops us, but it can slow us down. Most tasks are just more difficult and costly to perform during these months. Our people travel across states and many treacherous backroads, so even if the jobs are rolling, just getting to the projects during these months can be the most dangerous part of the job.??

Our hottest pro tip for building in winter is safety first for all!??

Thanks to our pro team, Matt Campbell, Assistant Construction Inspection Manager and Safety Director on our Transportation Roadway Engineering team, and Nathaniel Lynch and Rob Robinson, Water and Wastewater Inspectors on our Utilities Engineering Team, who contributed to this article.??

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