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If you work in any kind of shop, you know just how brutal winter can get. What can you do to keep your workers safe and maintain productivity during the colder, winter months? The following explains how to prepare your shop, your equipment, and your employees for winter.
Shop
Many shops are lacking when it comes to insulation, so you have to do what you can to keep the heat in. Make sure windows and doors are properly sealed.
Aside from keeping your shop warm, it’s important to keep it dry as well. Absorbents of all kinds are handy to keep around the shop. For big puddles, consider using large absorbent socks, absorbent rolls, and large pads. Just make sure that you are using a universal style that will absorb both oil and water.
Equipment
To keep your equipment up and running during the cold season, prevention is the best plan. Prime and paint metal surfaces, such as vehicles, railings, sheet metal, and storage tanks, to keep the rust at bay. Kimball Midwest has Rust Master Plus, a primer that converts rust and prevents from further corrosion.
Consider the products you have in your shop. Make sure to move those that are affected by cold temperatures into an office that may stay warmer. Products such as chemicals, abrasive wheels, and paints should all be kept at a warmer temperature.
Employees
For everyone to work efficiently, they must wear the right gloves for the environment and application. Unfortunately, you are often faced with having to decide between protection from the cold and dexterity.If you need more protection from the cold, HeatLoc is a great option. However, if dexterity is more important to the job at hand, consider Insulated Dexterity Gloves.
In the cold states, everything is either wet or frozen during the winter months. Non-slip shoes or an extra traction cleat can save your employees a trip to the hospital because of falling.
Falling, during any time of the year, is a major hazard companies face. Check out our article on how to avoid falls in the workplace.
Make sure your shop, equipment, and employees can endure the cold this winter. Contact your local Kimball Midwest Representative for more problem-solving solutions like these. 
