It is an important subject. If you are running a cold storage warehouse, it’s crucial that your staff protect themselves with the right clothing tailored for cold and freezing conditions.

Personal protective clothing is needed for work at or below 4°C. Clothing should be selected to suit the temperature, wind speed, the level and duration of activity, and job design. These factors are important to consider so that you can regulate the amount of heat and perspiration you generate while working.

Having the right thermal protective clothing when working in cold storage or extreme cold environments makes the difference between dangerous and safe work.

There are many sectors and jobs where most or all of the working day is spent in extremely cold weather conditions. A clear example of this are the jobs performed in cold rooms handling food such as meat, fish or vegetables.

It is not enough to wear everyday clothing because the cold is a harmful agent for our health, causing fatigue at work, muscle aches, risk of hypothermia, frostbite and various injuries caused by the cold itself. Working in a cold environment can be dangerous to your health, even fatal in certain – but rare – circumstances.

For this reason, using thermal clothing for intense cold can make the difference between safe and dangerous work.

So what to wear when working in a freezer warehouse? Many items are required, but generally, we should be equipped with heavy clothing, insulated shoes and gloves, and thermal headgear.

Here are some important clothing which is required for Cold Storage Work:

Heavy Jackets and Coats

As a cold storage worker, you’ll need a heavy jacket or coat lined with insulation to keep you warm during shifts. Outerwear should also provide protection against outside elements such as rain, sleet and snow. Your jacket or coat should have thick, woolen collars to provide additional warmth for your face and large pockets that allow you to store tools and paperwork needed for your job. Specialty industrial freezer coat It’s always nice to have. A hooded jacket is good to have because they can handle negative temperature drops. 

Headgear and Gloves

Headgear helps prevent heat from escaping through your head. Select a coat or a jacket with an attached hood or buy watch caps made from wool and cashmere. If you’re working outside, you’ll need gloves to protect your hands from getting cold and potentially catching a chill. If you work inside, you may need some that are touchscreen compatible for today’s modern inventory equipment.To protect your hands, wear insulated foam gloves with a polyester shell and specialized grips on the palms and fingers to make it easier to move boxes and pallets.

Hood or balaclava mask

A hood or balaclava mask keeps your head warm and helps prevent sunburn if you are outside. Make sure it fits snugly over your ears and doesn’t fall off while you’re working.

Long-sleeved shirt

Wear long sleeves if you’re working outdoors. If you’re indoors, you can also wear long sleeve under your freezer jacket. 

Thermal pants 

Thermal pants are great for keeping your legs warm and dry. Wear them under pants or jeans to avoid having to change clothes. 

Freezer Coveralls and Undergarments

A freezer coverall is a one-piece clothing item that provides warmth against subzero temperatures. It’s usually made with insulated arms, legs and pockets. The outer shell is water resistant and tear resistant and sealed against the wind. Freezer coveralls are bulkier than regular-use coveralls but won’t restrict your movement. Thermal underwear can add to this protection. Long-sleeved thermal undershirts and ankle-length underwear made from cotton and polyester blend retain heat and help wick sweat away from the body.

Footwear

To keep your legs warm and the blood in your feet circulating, you need several pairs of woolen socks that are long enough to cover your shins. Reinforced toes and heels will add comfort. You can pair these socks with a sturdy pair of waterproof, insulated work boots with comfort insoles. The most heat-efficient work boots are made from synthetic leather and nylon with rubber soles for strong gripping action. Some cold-weather work boots also feature fleece collars for additional warmth. You’re going to spend a lot of time standing around in a cold warehouse, so make sure you have comfortable shoes that won’t get wet or dirty. You don’t want to end up with blisters or calluses on your feet.

Cold chain logistics is temperature-controlled storage, processing, and transporting of goods from local to international destinations. Whether it is port logistics or warehousing, workers need work clothes that stand up to the demanding nature of such work. With that in mind, it is important to equip oneself with the proper safety apparel in order to complete a full days work in such cold work environments.