Status: Winter Site Restart – Operational Readiness
Authority: HSE / CDM Regulations 2015 / Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations
Applicability: All London construction sites reopening after the Christmas shutdown
Period Covered: Week commencing Monday 5 January
Authority: HSE / CDM Regulations 2015 / Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations
Applicability: All London construction sites reopening after the Christmas shutdown
Period Covered: Week commencing Monday 5 January
After the Christmas and New Year shutdown, construction sites across London will begin returning to work from Monday 5 January. This restart does not happen in neutral conditions. It takes place in mid-winter, with short daylight hours, cold mornings, increased slip risks and materials & plant behaving very differently than they did in autumn.
Forecast conditions for early January indicate overnight temperatures at or below 0°C, with limited daytime recovery and a realistic risk of frost, ice and occasional snowfall across Greater London. Under these conditions, site hazards develop rapidly. Ice can form on access routes, scaffold boards and steelwork before first access, while low temperatures directly affect the performance of construction materials. Concrete pours become vulnerable to early-age freezing below 5°C, resins, adhesives and sealants may fall outside manufacturer-approved temperature ranges and hydraulic plant, lifting equipment and temporary works systems can respond more slowly or unpredictably in cold conditions.
From a legal standpoint, these risks are foreseeable. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations and the CDM Regulations 2015, duty holders are required to assess and control risks arising from environmental conditions, including weather. Reliance on generic or out-of-date RAMS that do not reflect winter operating conditions may be insufficient if an incident occurs. Where freezing conditions or snow are present, the expectation is that access, sequencing, materials selection and inspection regimes are actively adjusted before works recommence.
For managers, supervisors and duty holders, the message is clear: the first week back is not business as usual. Cold weather planning is not optional or discretionary. It is a legal management duty, requiring evidence of proactive inspection, method review and communication before operatives are permitted to return to work.
Forecast conditions for early January indicate overnight temperatures at or below 0°C, with limited daytime recovery and a realistic risk of frost, ice and occasional snowfall across Greater London. Under these conditions, site hazards develop rapidly. Ice can form on access routes, scaffold boards and steelwork before first access, while low temperatures directly affect the performance of construction materials. Concrete pours become vulnerable to early-age freezing below 5°C, resins, adhesives and sealants may fall outside manufacturer-approved temperature ranges and hydraulic plant, lifting equipment and temporary works systems can respond more slowly or unpredictably in cold conditions.
From a legal standpoint, these risks are foreseeable. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations and the CDM Regulations 2015, duty holders are required to assess and control risks arising from environmental conditions, including weather. Reliance on generic or out-of-date RAMS that do not reflect winter operating conditions may be insufficient if an incident occurs. Where freezing conditions or snow are present, the expectation is that access, sequencing, materials selection and inspection regimes are actively adjusted before works recommence.
For managers, supervisors and duty holders, the message is clear: the first week back is not business as usual. Cold weather planning is not optional or discretionary. It is a legal management duty, requiring evidence of proactive inspection, method review and communication before operatives are permitted to return to work.
The First Week Back Sets the Safety Tone for January
January restarts are statistically high-risk periods. Crews are returning after a break, routines are disrupted and productivity pressure often clashes with winter conditions.
On London sites specifically, common early-January risk factors include:
If these conditions are not addressed before operatives arrive, incidents tend to cluster in the first 7–10 working days of the year.
January restarts are statistically high-risk periods. Crews are returning after a break, routines are disrupted and productivity pressure often clashes with winter conditions.
On London sites specifically, common early-January risk factors include:
- Icy access routes and scaffold decks
- Reduced grip on steel, handrails and temporary works
- Cold-affected materials (concrete, adhesives, sealants)
- Foggy mornings and low winter sun glare
- Fatigue and reduced dexterity due to cold exposure
If these conditions are not addressed before operatives arrive, incidents tend to cluster in the first 7–10 working days of the year.
Cold Weather Is a Planning Issue, Not an Excuse
Cold weather does not stop work in London, poor planning does. Managers should be reviewing method statements and risk assessments with winter conditions explicitly in mind. Generic RAMS copied forward from October are no longer adequate.
Key planning adjustments expected on professional sites include:
From a compliance perspective, failing to plan for foreseeable winter conditions is not defensible if something goes wrong.
Cold weather does not stop work in London, poor planning does. Managers should be reviewing method statements and risk assessments with winter conditions explicitly in mind. Generic RAMS copied forward from October are no longer adequate.
Key planning adjustments expected on professional sites include:
- Revised access and egress inspections before start of shift
- Gritting and ice management plans clearly allocated
- Temporary lighting reviewed for shorter daylight hours
- Weather-sensitive activities rescheduled to later in the day where possible
- Clear stop-work thresholds for ice, frost or visibility
From a compliance perspective, failing to plan for foreseeable winter conditions is not defensible if something goes wrong.
What Managers Should Have Ready Before Monday 5 January
This is the minimum baseline, not best practice.
Site preparation
Welfare and people
This is the minimum baseline, not best practice.
Site preparation
- All walkways, stairs and access routes inspected before first access
- Grit and salt available on site, not on order
- Standing water identified and controlled
- Scaffold boards and ladder access checked for frost or ice
Welfare and people
- Heated welfare fully operational before operatives arrive
- Hot water and drying facilities checked
- Clear guidance on additional breaks where cold exposure is prolonged
- Toolbox talk delivered on winter hazards on Day 1
Plant, materials and works
- Plant start-up checks adjusted for cold conditions
- Concrete pours reviewed against temperature limits
- Adhesives, resins and sealants stored to manufacturer requirements
- Lifting operations reassessed for reduced grip and visibility
If these items are being discussed on Monday morning, the site is already behind.
London Projects Cannot Afford Early-Year Incidents
London programmes are already under pressure in 2026:
A slip, fall or plant incident in the first week of January rarely stays minor. It triggers investigations, delays, paperwork and reputational damage; all at a time when projects are trying to build momentum for the year ahead.
Cold weather is predictable, failure to manage it is not.
The return to site on Monday 5 January is a management test. Sites that treat winter conditions seriously will start the year safely and productively. Those that rush the restart will spend January reacting instead of delivering. For London construction managers, preparation over the next few days will determine how the year truly begins.
London programmes are already under pressure in 2026:
- Tight client milestones
- High labour costs
- Increased regulatory scrutiny
- Zero tolerance for avoidable accidents
A slip, fall or plant incident in the first week of January rarely stays minor. It triggers investigations, delays, paperwork and reputational damage; all at a time when projects are trying to build momentum for the year ahead.
Cold weather is predictable, failure to manage it is not.
The return to site on Monday 5 January is a management test. Sites that treat winter conditions seriously will start the year safely and productively. Those that rush the restart will spend January reacting instead of delivering. For London construction managers, preparation over the next few days will determine how the year truly begins.
Image © London Construction Magazine Limited
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Expert Verification & Authorship:
Mihai Chelmus
Founder, London Construction Magazine | Construction Testing & Investigation Specialist |
