
Written collaboratively by Maristela Rovai and Luciana Bignardi da Costa.
Cold and snowy winters are a challenge for dairy workers, especially for those immigrants coming from warmer climates where the temperatures do not fall to single digits. Hypothermia caused by cold temperatures, winds, presence of road ice, snow, sleet, and freezing rain can all be considered potential hazards for dairy workers. Informing the dairy workers of simple cold weather survival tips would be beneficial in improving their quality of life, both at home and the workplace.
Accidents are frequent during slippery conditions and adapting to these circumstances will reduce everyone’s risk of getting into an unfortunate situation.
Basic tips such as taking the time to do basic vehicle maintenance, have an emergency supply kit or instructions on how to drive safe in snowy days could help avoid life risking situations. We must remember that dairy workers are essential to the farms and the livestock needs them 24/7.
Dairy workers jobs require long work shifts. Thus, if you own a car make sure to inflate your car’s tires, your gas tank is filled, lubricate mechanical parts, and have an emergency kit on hand, so you can get home or to work safe and sound.
Preparing the House or Trailer
After a long day at work, you probably want to relax, feel warm and let go of the pressures of the day. Ensuring your house is adequately heated is important.
There are a few simple ways to reduce the overall heat loss, make sure all windows are closed, replace damaged door seals, use carpet, and curtains.
During winter, make sure to:
- Watch for excessive snow on roof and remove it.
- Keep ice off walkways to avoid slippery spots.
Prior to winter season, make sure to:
- Cover the windows with plastic to avoid cold air drafts.
- Have salt or cat litter to keep ice off walkways.
- Drain and/or cover all outside piping.
- Have a shovel handy.
- Check the furnace filters.
Trailer homes:
- Heat tape to be used on water / sewer pipes.
- Proper insulate around the skirting.
Winter Wardrobe Accessories
When choosing what to wear, carefully select clothing that will not restrict movement (too tight can restrict movement and reduces circulation). Wearing appropriate clothing, or layers of loose clothing can provide better insulation for your body. Protect your face, extremities and feet – good waterproof and insulated boots with wool or wool-cotton blend socks are very helpful. Wearing a hat reduces the heat that dissipates from your head keeping your body warmer. Having extra socks, gloves, hats, jacket, blankets, and a change of clothes could be necessary at work or in vehicle during the harsh winters.
Prior to winter season, check if you have for working:
- Lined jackets.
- Lined overalls.
- Stocking caps / hats and lined gloves.
- Long thermal underwear.
- Lined boots, waterproof and anti-slip.
- Wicking wool socks.
- Scarf protecting the neck.
Safe Driving
Car safety and driving carefully should be our number one priority during any season of the year; however, during winter we must be even more cautious behind the wheel.
The three P's of safe winter driving as described by OSHA are: “PREPARE for the trip; PROTECT yourself; and PREVENT crashes on the road.” For that, it is important the car maintenance is up to date and the car is stocked with a few lifesaving items before the start of the winter season. The following table will help you be organized during winter:
Prior to winter season, check all vehicles for:
- Tire tread depth and properly inflated.
- Windshield wipers.
- Oil change.
- Battery life.
- Antifreeze.
- Washer antifreeze windshield fluid added in the washer reservoir.
- Clean car windows.
Keep always in the car:
- Salt, sandbags or cat litter for extra weight and traction if needed.
- Cellphone charger and car adaptor.
- Battery jump pack for cold weather.
- Chain to secure a vehicle to be towed.
- Ice scraper.
- Shovel.
Emergency Bag with:
- Non-freezing foods: chocolate, cereal bar, nuts, or peanuts.
- Water bottles for hydration.
- Extra winter clothes: coat, scarf, hats, and gloves.
- Blanket.
- Flashlight, candles and lighter.
- Brightly colored cloth to use as a flag on car antenna.
- Antifreeze.
During the winter season, make sure to:
- Plug in diesel vehicle if needed.
- Use #1 diesel or add diesel treatment in the fuel.
- Pump your breaks slowly when on ice.
- Give more distance in-between vehicles.
- Keep fuel tank at least half full.
- Buckle up.
- Awareness of wildlife eyes reflection.
- Drive slowly and do not make sudden corrections.
- Turn off your cruise control.
- Turn on lights.
- Caution with bridges. They will freeze first due to no ground insulation underneath leaving the entire structure being surrounded by cold air. Slow down before entering a bridge because it might be icy.
- Roads that appear to be wet may contain ice that is called “black ice.”
- Dial 511 in South Dakota or check online for road conditions on the Safe Travel USA website.
- Dial 911 if you are strand in your vehicle and/or dangerous conditions.
Important Body Signs Associated With Winter
The temperature drops, wind starts blowing and the snow piles up, suddenly everyone starts taking their winter clothing out of the wardrobe. We cannot control the weather, but we can take control of how we will be protected during the winter.
Hypothermia (abnormally low body temperature) and frostbite are both cold-related emergencies and considered as dangerous conditions that can happen when we are exposed to extremely cold temperatures.
Hypothermia: It occurs when our body loses heat faster than it can be produced, causing a drop in the body’s core temperature (below 35.0 °C or 95.0 °F in humans). We should be aware of the following signs:
- Fast and shallow breathing / trouble breathing.
- Going from shivering to not shivering.
- Hunger, fatigue and confusion.
- Lack of coordination.
- Increased heart rate.
- Weak pulse.
- Slurred speech / mumbling.
- Dizziness and nausea.
It is important to be aware that these conditions may quickly become life or limb threatening. Preventing cold-related emergencies includes knowledge and action. Be sure to check the outside temperature and limit your time outdoors if it is very cold, wet, or windy.
If you experience any of the following cold-related emergencies remove wet clothing, wrap the body in blankets, drink warm beverages, if possible, take a warm bath to help raise body temperature and seek for medical help immediately.
Frostbite: The exposure to extremely cold temperatures may lead to a reduced blood flow to the extremities (hands, fingers, toes, feet) causing frostbite. We should be aware of the following signs:
- Cold skin, prickling feeling and numbness.
- Red, white, bluish-white or grayish-yellow skin.
- Hard or waxy-looking skin.
- Clumsiness due to joint and muscle stiffness.
- Blistering after rewarming when severe (expect exposed skin to peel off).
- If the skin turns black seek medical attention.
- It can cause the tissue to die which is called gangrene.
English (Ingles) | Spanish (Español) |
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Blizzard | Tormenta / Tempestade de nieve (nevasca, ventisca, nevazón o viento blanco) |
Cloudy | Nublado |
Cold | Frio |
Drizzle | Llovizna |
Fog | Niebla |
Forecast | Pronóstico |
Freezing | Congelación |
Hazards | Peligros |
Icy | Helada / Gélido |
Insulate / Insulating | Aislar / Aislante |
Sleet | Aguanieve |
Slick | Resbaloso |
Snow | Nieve |
Snowfall | Nevada |
Snowplow | Quitanieves |
Storm | Tormenta |
Temperature (abbreviation temps) | Temperatura (“temps” es la abreviación) |
Timing | Medida del tiempo |
Warning | Advertencia o aviso |
Watch | Alerta |
Wind | Viento |
Windchill | Sensación térmica |
Waterproof | Resistente al agua |
English (Ingles) | Spanish (Español) |
Accident potential or risk increases | Aumenta / Incrementa el potencial o riesgo de accidentes |
Air quality | Calidad del aire |
Bitter cold | Frío extremo / Frío cortante |
Blizzard warning (blizzard is now) | Advertencia de una tormenta de nieve importante ocurriendo |
Blizzard watch (blizzard is expected in 36 hours) | Alerta de tormenta de nieve (Se espera la tormenta en las próximas 36 horas) |
Blowing / Drifting snow | Nieve que sopla y se dispersa |
Bridges will be the first roadways to freeze | Los puentes en las carreteras serán los primeros en congelarse |
Brief warm-up | Calentamiento breve. Se refiere a un incremento de la temperatura en un corto periodo |
Chance of snow | Probabilidad de nieve |
Cold temperatures | Temperaturas frías |
Creating areas of low visibility | Creando áreas de baja visibilidad. Se refiere a las condiciones del tiempo que se espera |
Dangerous are not going away anytime soon | Las situaciones peligrosas no van a desaparecer en el corto plazo |
Dangerous windchills | Peligrosos vientos fríos |
Dense fog | Niebla densa |
Drifting snow | Acumulación de nieve |
Emergency weather and natural hazard messages | Mensajes meteorológicos de emergencia y de desastres naturales |
Emergency alert system | Sistema de alerta de emergencia |
Expected a couple periods of light snow | Se espera períodos de nieve ligera |
Expected impacts | Impactos esperados |
Expected timeline | Plazo previsto. Significan la previsión de cambios esperados para las próximas horas o días |
Extreme cold | Extremadamente frío |
“Feels like” temperature | La temperatura o el frío que se siente realmente afuera |
Fine layer of ice that forms during freezing drizzle | Capa fina de hielo que se forma durante la llovizna helada |
Forecast ahead | Previsión del tiempo |
Forecast could be altered slightly over the next few hours | La previsión podría modificarse ligeramente en las próximas horas |
Forecast ice accumulations | Previsión de acumulaciones de hielo |
Freezing drizzle | Llovizna helada o fría |
Freezing drizzle expected | Previsión de llovizna helada |
Freezing rain o precipitation | Lluvia gélida o congelante / Granizo |
Frigid temperatures | Temperaturas frías |
Ground blizzard (wind is picking up the snow on the ground) | Tormenta de nieve en la superficie (el viento recoge la nieve por el suelo) |
Heavy snow | Fuerte nevada |
Ice storm | Tormenta de nieve |
Impact / Impacting the region | Impacto / Impactando la región |
Light glaze of ice on elevated surfaces (“black ice”) | Hielo glaseado o placa de hielo en superficies elevadas (hielo glaseado es una cubierta delgada, transparente y homogénea de hielo depositada en la superficie tras precipitar la lluvia congelada en el suelo) |
Light snow | Nieve ligera |
Light snow coming | Llegada de nieve ligera (aguanieve) |
Light snow showers | Chubascos de aguanieve |
Light to moderate snow amounts | Cantidad de nieve leve a moderada |
Light winds | Viento suave |
Limit outdoor time | Las actividades al aire libre deben verse limitadas |
Low visibility | Poca visibilidad |
Monitor the forecast | Vigila la previsión meteorológica |
Near to below average temperatures are expected | Se esperan temperaturas cercanas a la media |
No travel advised (because travel conditions are extremally difficult and hazardous). Everyone is advised to not travel except for emergency situations | No se recomienda los desplazamientos en coche (porque las condiciones de carreteras son extremadamente difíciles y peligrosas). Se aconseja a todos que no conduzcan excepto en situaciones de emergencia |
Partly to mostly cloudy | Parcialmente nublado a muy nublado |
Patchy blowing snow | Nieve o ventisca desigual |
Patchy fog has been slow to dissipate | Zonas de niebla han tardado en disiparse |
Patchy slick spots | Puntos resbaladizos irregulares |
Persistent freezing drizzle will begin on Sat and linger through sun night | Pronostican una llovizna helada continua que comenzará el sábado y permanecerá hasta la noche de sábado |
Potential for 10” of snow | Pronostican hasta 10 pulgadas de nieve |
Potential to changeover to snow | Potencial de cambio a nieve |
Precautions to take with the cold temps | Precauciones a tomar con las temperaturas frías |
Reduced visibility | Visibilidad reducida |
Road closures possible | Posibles cierres de carreteras |
Road closed | Carretera o vía cerrada |
Roads becoming slick and ice covered | Las carreteras se vuelven resbaladizas y cubiertas de hielo |
Road impassable | Camino intransitable |
Round of wintry weather | Fase de clima invernal |
Safety tips | Consejos de seguridad |
Shelter belt or windbreak (a line of trees protecting home or buildings in the country) | Cortavientos (muchos árboles en línea que protegen casas, edificios o granjas en áreas rurales) |
Slick spots | Puntos o zonas resbaladizos |
Slippery roads | Carreteras resbaladizas |
Snow covered roads | Carreteras cubiertas de nieve |
Snow falling / snow fall | Caída de nieve |
Snowstorm | Nevada |
Temperatures below freezing | Temperaturas inferiores al punto de congelación |
Travel impacts | Impactos asociados a viajes |
Untreated roads or surfaces (low maintenance roads) | Carreteras o superficies sin retirada de la nieve acumulada (mantenimiento reducido) |
Use caution when outdoors | Tenga cuidado cuando esté al aire libre |
Wind chill advisory | Aviso de aire o viento frío |
Wind gusts | Ráfagas de viento |
Wind speed and direction | Velocidad y dirección del viento |
Winter storm warning | Aviso de tormenta de invierno |
Winter storm watch | Alerta de tormenta de invierno |
Winter weather advisory | Aviso de clima invernal |
Wintry weather expected | Se espera un clima invernal |
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The temperatures near or below freezing are: 32°F or 0°C.
Other Important Winter Tips
Do not drink alcohol to keep you warm. For dairy farm employees, alcohol may seem like the perfect cold-weather beverage that creates a sensation of warmth and comfort.
Alcohol decreases core body temperature regardless of the temperature outside and will increase hypothermia risk. In this way, the feelings of warmth are momentary, and continued use of alcohol lead to intoxication and disorientation and also can lead to frostbite and/or fatal outcomes.
Check weather reports daily and get weather updates on your phone. Roads can quickly become slick and ice-covered while you are getting ready to leave the house or the work.
- US National Weather Service and customize your city and region.
- South Dakota Highway Patrol website for road updates.
On a snow day:
- Plan on Leaving earlier to get to work.
- Do not leave your vehicle if you get stuck, it provides shelter until rescue personnel can reach you.
- Drink enough water to stay hydrated.
- Keep cellphones charged.
- If you change your routine, notify a colleague or family member.
- Check on family and friends.
Getting to our jobs during a snow or ice storm can be stressful. Drive carefully, leave earlier and, when possible, do carpooling with your colleagues. Let’s go smart and make the most of winter, working comfortably and getting home safe and sound.
If you need a specific protocol or guidance for sharing with your employees and colleagues, let us know. We will be glad to help.
You may contact us: