EDMONTON, Alta. – As winter approaches and temperatures drop across Canada, the Alberta Ministry of Labour (MOL) is warning the province’s outdoor workers to start bundling up and keeping themselves warm. In a Nov. 25 announcement on the provincial government website, the MOL noted that extreme temperatures are a workplace hazard for many and that employers are obligated to reduce the risks of cold stress, hypothermia and other weather-related consequences. Among the steps employers can take are providing onsite heat sources, shielding employees from wind, creating heated shelters for work and/or breaks, establishing buddy systems and educating workers about the risks of the cold, the MOL stated. Meanwhile, employees should watch out for early signs of cold stress, like the following: shivering; loss of feeling in fingers, hands or toes, or trouble moving them; or mild frostbite. “Cold weather is a fact of life in Alberta,” said Christina Gray, the province’s Minister of Labour. “I encourage all employers and workers to know their rights and obligations when it comes to safety in the workplace, especially as the weather gets colder.” Age, medical conditions, poor overall health and lack of exercise can make a worker more vulnerable to the cold, the MOL added.