Wet Clothing

Most people will dress for cold temperatures to be warm when they are inactive. Once employees start working, they often start to sweat. Sweat-dampened clothing loses its insulation value. Therefore, it is important to dress in loose layers so that you can remove items as you warm up, and put them back on when you stop working. Start by opening your jacket. Next, remove one or more layers of clothing. Then, remove any non-essential head gear. Finally, remove gloves or mittens, unless they are required for other safety reasons.

Remember that no matter how many layers you wear or how good your clothing is, it provides little insulation if it gets wet. In the case that your clothes do get wet or damp with sweat, it is a good idea to always have an extra set of cold weather clothing available to change into.

When dressing for cold environments, remember the acronym COLD:

• Keep it Clean
• Avoid Overheating
• Wear it Loose and in layers
• Keep it Dry

To learn more about Cold Stress Safety visit our Cold Stress, Illness & Injury Safety Online Training web page.