General guidance

for employers and workers

in inclement weather conditions

Date: March 2017

© OSHAD 2017
This document is and shall remain the property of OSHAD. The document may only be used for the
purposes for which it was intended. Unauthorised use or reproduction of this document is prohibited.
 High Winds General

For employers For workers

• Follow up regularly the weather

notifications and conditions from Follow up regularly with notifications
concerned official authorities. which are sent by the employer.
Safety
• Issue notifications for all employees. Alerts

Review any work at height and

outdoor working when the wind External
speed reaches or gusts higher than and
38km/h. high areas

Ensure all windows are closed and Employer should be notified in

doors only opened as required. Windows case of increased wind speed
and Doors concerning the following:
• Any work at height and outdoor
working.
Remove lightweight or loose objects
from open areas. • Any doors or open windows.
Open Areas • Light weight or unsecured
equipment in open areas.
• Stop any lifting operations if wind
speed reaches or gusts higher than • Lifting works.
38km/h. • Unsecured equipment.
High winds are a common hazard in the UAE. • Ensure any cranes or lifting equipment lifting
are secured. operations

To reduce risks during high wind, the below
should be considered as part of risk management
procedures:
Inspect buildings and projects to
confirm that unsecured equipment
has been removed.
Inspection
• Follow up regularly with
notifications which are sent by
the employer.
• Drive only if safe to do so.
• If your journey is not essential,
Issue alerts and notifications to all postpone it until the heavy rain
employees regarding safe driving subsides.
during high winds. • Reduce your speed.
Driving • If visibility becomes very poor,
pull over in a safe place until it
improves.
• Ensure tires and windscreen
wipers are in good condition.
• Do not drive close to other cars,
increase the braking distance.
Heavy Rain / Lightning / Flooding
Heavy rain and Lightning can cause
occupational safety and health issues within
the workplace, so precautions should be taken
to prevent employee exposure to lightning and
employers should recognize lightning as an
occupational hazard.
As part of any adverse weather procedure,
consider the following during times of heavy
rainfall or lightning storms as part of risk
management procedures:
General
For employers
• Follow up regularly the weather
notifications and conditions from
concerned official authorities.
• Issue alerts to all employees in
affected areas and projects.
• Issue notifications for all employees.
• Consider using only critical electrical Use of
equipment during lightning storms
• Switch off non-essential equipment. Equipment
Inform employees to stay indoors.
• Ensure entrances and exits to
buildings are safe and have non slip
mats to prevent ingress of water.
• Provide additional cleaning staff at
entrance and exit points to buildings
Add signboards within locations and
activities which include hazards that
affect employees’ health and safety
such as (water pipes, water ponds,
water bodies, isolated trees, and
equipment which are connected to
power... etc)
Issue alerts to all employees to
• Drive safely and reduce speed.
• Postpone unnecessary driving.
• Move the vehicle away from the
road to a safe area in case
visibility is too poor until it
becomes clear.
For workers
Follow employer’s instructions in
affected projects and locations
Safety
Alerts
• Use critical electrical equipment
only during lightning.
• Stop operating unnecessary
Electrical equipment.
• Stay away from objects that
conduct electricity (barbed wire
fences, power lines, etc.).
Stay in your office and don’t leave
until you get approval from your
Staying inside manager.
buildings
Use building exits and entrances
Building which include non-slip carpets
‘entrances
and exits’
• Avoid plumbing, including sinks,
baths and faucets.
• Get out immediately from ponds,
• Get away from other bodies of
Dangerous water
locations • Never shelter under an isolated
tree or metal structure.
• Drive only if safe to do so.
• If your journey is not essential,
postpone it until the heavy rain
subsides.
• Reduce your speed.
• If visibility becomes very poor,
pull over in a safe place until it
Driving improves.
• Ensure tires and windscreen
wipers are in good condition.
• Do not drive close to other cars,
increase the braking distance.
 Fog
Fog can cause very hazardous conditions for
driving on public roads due to reduced visibility.
To reduce risks during fog, the below should
be considered as part of risk management
procedures:
General
For employers
Follow up regularly the weather
notifications and conditions from
concerned official authorities.
Driving
Issue alerts and notifications to
all employees regarding safe
Alerts
driving during foggy weather.
For workers
Follow up regularly with
notifications, which are sent by
the employer.
• Follow employers’ notifications
• Reduce your speed.
• Do not drive close to other cars,
increase the braking distance.
• Drive only if safe to do so.
• If visibility becomes very poor,
pull over in a safe place until it
improves.
• Do not use hazard lights.
• Use high intensity fog lamps, If
visibility is less than 100 meters
• Review the need to travel
 Instructions for building Heavy Rain, Lightning, Flooding
and construction

For employers For workers

• Follow up regularly the weather

notifications and conditions from
concerned official authorities.
Follow up regularly with notifications
• Issue alerts to all employees in
affected areas and projects.
Safety which are sent by the employer.
Alerts
• Issue notifications for all employees.

Ensure appropriate signage is in

place and beware of areas with Comply with signboards’ contents.
standing water or that may flood.
Signage
• Review the use of electrical
installations or plant and Confirm following up with employer’s
equipment during heavy rainfall. notifications and instructions regarding
• Undertake additional checks of any use of equipment, electrical
scaffolding, ladder, heavy Plant and machines, or installations during
equipment etc. that may become Equipment the rainfall.
unsafe due to heavy rainfall.

Review any activities that involve Excavation

excavations. work

Building and Construction is considered one of the
high-risk activities and the level of risk increases on
workers in adverse weather conditions such as
Heavy Rain, Lightning, Flooding, High winds and fog.
• Check any areas where work at
height may be undertaken and
ensure it is safe to do so.
• Notify the employees and workers
to stay away from high areas such
as platforms, scaffolds, and others
during thunderstorms.
Confirm following up with employer’s
Work notifications and instructions regarding
at continuing construction which is
height related to excavation, high areas
and external construction.

To reduce risks during adverse weather conditions, Stop work outdoors

electrical (lightning) storms.
during Outdoor
working
the below should be considered as part of risk
management procedures: Ensure any chemicals or hazardous
Chemicals
Do not use chemicals or hazardous
materials are secured and covered. materials.

Provide staff with appropriate wet Personal Use PPE and clothes which are
weather clothing if working outdoors. Protective adequate for rainfall in case
Equipment construction is within External areas.
 High Winds
For employers
• Follow up regularly the weather
notifications and conditions from
concerned official authorities.
• Issue notifications for all employees.
• Review any work at height and
outdoor working when the wind
speed reaches or gusts higher than
38km/h.
• Secure objects that can be easily
blown away by strong winds.
• Stop any lifting operations if wind
speed reaches or gusts higher than
38km/h.
• Ensure any cranes or lifting
equipment are secured.
• Tag lines should be used when
hoisting loads with large flat
surfaces.
Ensure that tools are packed away
safely and that roofing sheets, cones,
signage and other loose materials are
safely secured.
• Provide eye protection to keep
dust and debris from blowing into
the eyes.
• Ensure hard hats are securely
fastened.
• Provide protective gear against
falls from high places.
• Ensure temporary or site fencing is
securely fixed.
• Ensure any chemicals or hazardous
materials are secured and covered.
Fog
For workers For employers For workers
Follow up regularly with notifications
which are sent by the employer. • Follow up regularly the weather
Safety notifications and conditions from Follow up regularly with notifications
Alerts concerned official authorities. which are sent by the employer
• Issue notifications for all employees Safety
• Confirm following up with Alerts
employer’s instructions regarding
Work ability to carry out required work
at
in high areas.
height
• Avoid standing next to construction Wear the personal protective
or accumulated materials. Personal equipment that has been supplied
Provide appropriate high visibility
Protective by employer such as reflector vests
clothing for outdoor workers.
Equipment during working in external or
construction areas.
• Follow employer’s instructions
regarding the ability to continue
lifting works.
lifting • Use ropes to lift heavy loads
which have wide surfaces
operations Review the possibility of continuing Confirm following the employer’s
work in heavy lifting activities instructions regarding ability to
considering the visibility conditions. lifting continue working if weather is foggy
operations
Comply with signboards and other
requirements and notify employer
about any signboards which have
Signage fallen as a result of strong wind.
Pay attention to voice and light
Ensure audible and visual warnings
warning systems in plant and
are activated on plant and equipment.
Plant and equipment and use them when
Personal Equipment required.
Wear required PPE which has been
Protective supplied by employer.
Equipment
Ensure
Note: In addition to the above, follow general instructions for
Follow employer’s instructions.
equipment and employers in heavy rain/lightening/ flooding, high winds and fog
other materials
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For more information, please check the technical instruction manual in OSHAD website