Weather Gear

Reviewed by a working tradesman with 17+ years in the field.

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Clothing, shelter and site measures for heat, cold, rain, snow, wind and smoke.

I am a:

Tap your level and the boxes below open to the advice for you. Remembered on this device.

What it isClothing, shelter and site measures for heat, cold, rain, snow, wind and smoke.

Your jobMatch your kit and your plan to the day, and stop work when the risk is too high.

The hard ruleHeat stroke is an emergency: call 911 and cool the person. Never heat a closed space with an unvented fuel burner.

The checkWater, shelter, the right PPE for the conditions and protection for the work.

By the end you can

Dress in layers for cold and wet.
Set up a hot-weather routine.
Tell heat exhaustion from heat stroke and act.
Protect the work from the weather and plan around the forecast.

Stop and read

Heat stroke and cold stress are emergencies. Confusion, collapse, seizures or hot red or dry skin means heat stroke: call 911 and cool the person now. Stop work when the weather makes it unsafe, and do not run an unvented fuel burner in a closed space.

The big idea

Weather decides how fast you work, how well concrete cures and whether people get hurt. The building code does not set worker heat and cold rules; provincial OHS rules do. Concrete in hot and cold weather is covered by the code and CSA A23.1 (see Hot and Cold Weather Adjustments). Employers are expected to protect workers from heat and cold. Confirm the sections and any temperature triggers with your regulator.

Hot weather

Water within reach, and drink regularly before you are thirsty.
Shade or a cool place to rest, and extra breaks as the heat builds.
Light, breathable, hi-vis clothing, a brimmed hard hat or sun shade, UV-rated glasses and sunscreen.
Fans and misting where you can. Give new or returning workers time to adjust.

Condition	Signs	Act
Heat exhaustion	Heavy sweating, pale clammy skin, dizziness, weakness, nausea, headache, fast pulse, possible fainting	Stop work, shade, lie down, remove excess clothing, cool the skin, sip cool water, stay with them
Heat stroke	Confusion or agitation, collapse, hot red or dry skin, seizures	Call 911 immediately and cool rapidly

Call 911 for heat exhaustion too if they vomit, become confused, faint or get worse. Send for medical evaluation if symptoms last more than 30 to 60 minutes despite treatment, and no return to work that day.

Signs and steps from a BC construction association factsheet (RCABC), which cites OSHA and CDC. It cites no WorkSafeBC sections, so confirm your regulator's guidance.

Cold weather

Three layers: a close-fitting wicking base, a warm mid layer, and a wind- and water-resistant shell that fits over them without being tight.
Dry spares: socks, gloves, hat and base layer. Damp clothing can rapidly drop your core temperature.
Insulated gloves that still let you work, insulated safety boots, and a hard-hat liner made for your hat.
Breaks: a work and rest schedule with a place to warm up. How often depends on air temperature, wind and humidity, and some provinces point to published exposure limits (PEI cites the ACGIH TLVs). Confirm yours.
If someone shows signs of cold stress, get them warm and call for help. Learn the signs from your regulator's cold stress guidance.

Wet, snow, wind and smoke

Wet: waterproof hi-vis jacket and pants, waterproof slip-resistant boots and gloves, dry spares, tarps and shelters for the work and the materials. Extra care with GFCI tools, ladders and slippery planks.
Snow and ice: traction cleats, sanded or salted walkways, ladders and platforms, and check that snow does not hide holes, rebar or open excavations.
Wind: windproof jackets, sealed eye protection, weighted tarps, extra bracing for forms, scaffold and fences. Stop work with cranes, pump booms, tall forms and ladders when wind passes the maker's or the site's limit.
Smoke: respirators or masks and a plan for smoke days. Confirm your regulator's rules.

Seasonal tool and site adjustments

Cold-weather fuel and oil, and warm storage for batteries.
Heated hoses and protected water lines in freezing weather.
Shade, heater and windbreak setups; snow and ice clearing; mud control and drainage so water does not pool.
Concrete admixtures only as the supplier and engineer allow.
Check the forecast every day and plan the pour for the weather.

Example (numbers made up). 8 workers each drinking 250 mL every 20 minutes over a 6-hour shift: 6 × 3 = 18 servings × 250 mL = 4.5 L each, so 8 × 4.5 = 36 L for the crew. Bring more on hot days.

Common mistakes

Gear that does not match the season
No water in the heat
No frost protection for concrete
No traction on snow and ice
No windbreaks
No protection for the work in rain
Working in smoke without a plan

Pro note

Weather affects curing, soil, comfort and safety all at once. Check the forecast, plan for it and adjust. The job does not stop, but you choose when to do each part.

Weather note

Extreme heat, cold, storms and smoke are becoming more common. Have a plan before the day arrives and stop work when the risk is too high.

What the inspector or safety officer looks at

Heat and cold plans, drinking water, shelter, PPE for the conditions, and protection of the work. Confirm what your regulator checks.

✅ Check yourselfTap a question

What are the three cold-weather layers?

A close-fitting base layer that wicks moisture, a warm mid layer (fleece, down or synthetic), and a wind- and water-resistant outer shell that fits over the others without being tight.

Why carry spare socks, gloves and a base layer?

Damp clothing can rapidly drop your core temperature. Change into dry ones when yours get wet.

Which signs mean heat stroke rather than heat exhaustion?

Confusion or agitation, collapse or unconsciousness, hot red or dry skin, or seizures. Call 911 at once and start rapid cooling.

A worker has heavy sweating, pale clammy skin, dizziness and nausea. What do you do?

Stop work, move them to shade, lay them down, remove excess clothing or PPE, cool the skin (cold packs at neck, armpits and groin, cool water, fan), give sips of cool water, and stay with them. Call 911 if they vomit, get confused, faint or get worse.

Why do you check the forecast before a pour?

Weather changes how concrete cures and whether people get hurt. Plan the pour and the protection for the day (see Hot and Cold Weather Adjustments).

A crew of 8 drinks 250 mL every 20 minutes over a 6-hour outdoor shift. How much water do they need in total?

6 h × 3 servings per hour = 18 servings each; 18 × 250 mL = 4.5 L per person; 8 × 4.5 = 36 L for the crew. Numbers are made up; follow your regulator's guidance.

🧰 Gear for this stepMust-haveRent itNice to have

Must-haveLayers:
Must-haveRain gear:
Must-haveCold:
Must-haveHeat:
Rent itShade tent, fans, misters, heaters made for the job, warm-up trailer
Must-haveDrinking water and electrolyte drink in coolers within reach of every worker
Rent itConcrete protection:
Must-haveWeighted tarps, tie-downs and sandbags for wind
Nice to haveTraction cleats, sand or ice melt, snow shovels, heated hoses
Nice to haveRespirators and masks for smoke days; battery warming storage

🛒 Buy, rent or borrow?Tap your level

Home DIY

Buy your own layers, boots, gloves and a good rain jacket. Rent heaters and tarps for short jobs. Do not heat a closed space with an unvented fuel burner. Stop and get help at the first signs of heat stroke or hypothermia.

Laborer or helper

Dress in layers, drink water and take warm-up or cool-down breaks as offered. Tell your lead right away if you or a coworker shows signs of heat illness or cold stress. Never use an unvented fuel burner in a closed space.

1st-year apprentice

Build a season kit: base layers, insulated gloves with spares, a hard-hat liner, rain gear and sun protection. Ask before you work in extreme heat or cold, and learn the warning signs in yourself and others.

Apprentice, 2nd to 4th year

Build a season kit and learn the warning signs of heat and cold illness. Speak up early rather than push through. Do not decide to run a heater or work in extreme weather without direction, and ask when you are unsure.

Journeyperson

Own your personal weather kit and pass on the habits. You decide when concrete work, ladders or cranes need to stop for weather, and you say so early.

Lead hand or foreman

Watch the crew for heat and cold signs, schedule breaks, and stop concrete, ladder or crane work when weather makes it unsafe. Enforce the heat and cold plan. Do not override engineer or supplier weather limits.

Contractor or business owner

Supply shelter, water, warm-up areas and heaters, and write heat and cold plans into your safety program. Rent seasonal items (heaters, hoarding, frost blankets) and own what you use daily. Keep written plans, worker training and break records on file. Confirm who carries the liability with your lawyer or insurer.

Starting a new business

Write heat and cold plans before your first season, and budget shelter, water, warm-up areas and heaters. Keep break and training records. Confirm weather and exposure rules with your provincial regulator and workers' compensation board.

By Province:

Heat and cold stress rules are set by each province's and territory's OHS regulator, and the sections and temperature triggers differ. WHMIS and the CSA PPE standards are national. I could not verify per-province sections here, so none are listed. Confirm with your regulator and workers' compensation board.

See Canada by Province for the full comparison.

Sources:

RCABC, First Aid Requirements for treating Heat-Related Illness (secondary: a BC industry association factsheet).
PEI Public Service Commission, Working in the Cold safety talk (layering, breaks).
Cold stress symptoms, per-province rules and smoke rules were not verified here.

Last reviewed October 2026. General information, not engineering or legal advice.