A Guide to Protecting Your Forest Products Business from the Top Three Winter Weather Risks

At Continental Underwriters, reducing risk is at the heart of what we do. As difficult as winter weather can be for forest products businesses to deal with, there is a silver lining — the principal risks associated with the cold, sleet and snow can be proactively planned for.

With winter weather quickly approaching, we took a few of our past articles on common cold-weather business risks and combined them into a single guide that covers more ground. Whether the winter weather in your locale ends up being mild or wild, the following tips can help you protect your business, your employees, and your bottom line.

Risk #1: Heat Sources
There is no question that heat sources can pose a serious fire risk. According to the National Fire Prevention Association, heating equipment is a major cause of fires at work places.

Unsurprisingly, nearly half of these fires occur in the winter months of December, January, and February. Before your employees start cranking up the heat and looking for creative ways to beat the cold, make heat source safety a top priority for winter preparedness.

Top Heat Source Tips

1. Maintenance Checks: Regularly inspect industrial heaters for wear and tear.
2. Clear Vents & Exhausts: Prevent blockages that can affect performance.
3. Portable Heaters: Ensure they’re on flat surfaces, away from foot traffic and flammable materials. While the heater is in operation there needs to be somebody in the immediate area who can monitor the heater.
4. Professional Inspection: Schedule a comprehensive review of all heating systems to ensure you are ready for the cold weather.
5. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Monitoring: Regularly test detectors and maintain proper ventilation.

Heat Source Tips In Detail

Use UL Devices

• Only UL-approved devices should be used to stave off the cold. UL Listed equipment has been tested and approved to be used in dusty, commercial spaces. UL is one of only a few companies approved by OSHA to test and certify equipment.

Use Industrial Electric Infrared Heaters

• These are the only type of heater that is designed for dusty environments as are typically encountered in forest products businesses.
• These are the only type of personal heating solution we recommend.
• Fosteria makes a typical heater that is used in sawmill applications.

Avoid Torpedo Heaters Whenever Possible

• Torpedo heaters should not be used for personnel to keep warm. If torpedo heaters are in use, they should be treated as hot work and the hot work permit procedure should be utilized.

If a Torpedo Heater Must Be Used, Consider Implementing the Following at Minimum:

• Ensure that the heater is properly maintained according to manufacturer’s specifications.
• The heater needs to be on a clean and solid surface with at least three feet of clear space around the heater.
• While the heater is in operation, there needs to be someone in the immediate area who can monitor the heater.
• If the heater will be running until the end of the shift, have someone periodically monitor the area after the heater is shut down in a similar manner to the Hot Work Program follow up process.
• An alternative could be to turn off the heater at least one hour prior to the end of shift so that the unit has fully cooled off before personnel leave the area.

Avoid Using Wood Burning Stoves Whenever Possible

• Wood-burning stoves present an inherent fire hazard—we strongly discourage their use inside buildings.

If Wood-Burning Stoves Have to Be Used, the Following Procedures Should Be in Place:

• Ensure there is a clean and clear radius of 15 feet or more around the unit.
• Implement a formal policy outlining safety procedures that should be adhered to when a wood-burning stove is in use; such as when you should and should not add wood, and discontinuing the use of the stove at least 3 hours before the last shift.
• Inspect the structural integrity of the furnace(s) daily.
• A fire extinguisher should be present at each stove.
• Exhaust away from the building and combustible material.

Risk #2: Building Integrity
Weather conditions like extreme cold, snow accumulation, and high winds add stress to a structure that can lead to major property damage or injury to personnel. Even a partial roof collapse can bring operations to a complete halt, destroy essential equipment, and create massive risk for both flooding and fire. While a professional risk assessor can help you pinpoint structural vulnerabilities, there are a number of essential steps you can take on your own.

Research and Inspection

• Determine the date of construction: Older design codes are lacking a number of features that can help protect against roof collapses from snow and ice, such as secondary roof drainage systems. If your building lacks these features, consider installing them before winter weather hits.
• Determine if there has been construction or modifications that increase the load on the roof: For example, it’s not uncommon for equipment to be hung from roofs. Even if the roof meets the most up-to-date codes, it may not be able to accommodate the additional load and snow/ice.
• Regardless of a building’s age and structural demands, regularly inspect all buildings for structural integrity.

Be Proactive When Winter Weather Occurs

• Remove any snow or ice on roofs as quickly as possible.
• Clear primary and secondary drains as quickly as possible.
• Keep snow/ice clear around buildings to prevent loaders from sliding into them.
• Check for snow-weighted trees/limbs hanging over buildings.
• If any structural issues are identified, repair them as quickly as possible!

Risk #3: Sprinkler Systems
The most obvious cold weather hazard is frozen pipes in sprinkler systems. While a frozen pipe could leave a building exposed to greater fire risk and damage, it could also lead to a rupture and flooding. While it may seem counter-intuitive, you should be even more on-guard for pipe freeze ups if your business is located in an area with milder winter temperatures.

As we saw during the Texas ice storm of 2021, construction in temperate or hot climates may lack the insulation to withstand a cold snap, and both local municipalities and private companies may lack the infrastructure to deal with snow and ice, even in relatively small amounts.

General Protection Against Freeze Ups

• Ensure that your facility is closed off from the cold, confirming that all doors, windows, and automatic louvers are properly shut.
• Install an alarm to monitor for freezing temperatures, ideally set to alert if any indoor areas fall below 40 degrees.
• Check your pipes, in particular sprinkler systems, and ensure that none are exposed to temperatures at or below 20 degrees.
• Check that outdoor piping systems are properly insulated.

Sprinkler Specific Tips

• Conduct frequent inspections of wet and dry sprinkler systems to minimize the potential for frozen or burst pipes. This should include:
• Draining condensation in dry systems.
• Ensuring proper minimum temperature is maintained around wet systems.
• The use of open flame to thaw pipes should be treated as typical hot work and the hot work permit procedures should be followed.
• Promptly notify Continental Underwriters of any impairments to your sprinkler systems by submitting an impairment form to sprinklerimpairment@contund.com.

Practice Proactive Winter Risk Reduction
By proactively addressing the top three winter risks—heat sources, building integrity, and sprinkler systems—you can fortify your business against the winter weather and protect your bottom line. If you’d like a good place to start, check your geographic risk for freezing. This free online tool can help you get a feel for the level of freeze protection that you should have.

If you’re lacking the level of protection you need, or have any questions about reducing risk in any capacity, make sure to reach out to our Risk Assessment Team at corey@contund.com to get started on solutions.