Brrrr It’s Cold Out There

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that when it is winter the weather is usually colder and even very cold sometimes. It makes a lot of sense then to wrap up and keep warm. This is where the layering principle is so useful.

Layer 1: The Thermal Layer, Designed to keep skin dry by wicking moisture away from the skin and retaining heat. Tight, stretchy fabrics are preferred as are synthetic fibres, such as polyester or microfibers.

Layer 2: The Insulation Layer, the warmth trap! Walkers commonly use fleece, and in colder extremes down jackets. Fleece is quick drying and traps heat thanks to its closely-knit fibres, while feather and down jackets help trap warm air. Anything that traps air is good, even that old string vest!

Layer 3: The Waterproof / Protection layer, this is to keep out the wind and rain. Gore-Tex is the most recognized material for this job, although there are others on the market. The best jackets use multiple layers, and feature activity zones that stretch and offer protection where it’s most needed.

Remember it is much easier to stay warm than to create heat, all you are doing then is using up your energy to keep warm.

Employers need to bear this in mind and allow extra breaks in warm facilities to enable employees to replenish the extra energy they are using. A full risk assessment covering cold weather should be carried out.