In brief
Winter protection on outdoor sites is provided not by a single thick jacket but by an inner layer that keeps the skin dry, a middle layer that retains heat and an outer layer that blocks wind and water. Rainwear, thermal gloves and headwear should be chosen so that they can be used together with hard hats, safety harnesses and high-visibility clothing. Wet clothing quickly loses its protection; spare sets and a drying arrangement are also part of the plan.
Why is protective clothing against cold a PPE decision?
For a worker setting up formwork on a construction site, loading on an outdoor yard or carrying out roadside maintenance, protective clothing against cold is not a seasonal purchase but a personal protective equipment (PPE) decision that comes out of the risk assessment. A poorly chosen jacket makes the worker sweat, and the sweat then cools; a thick beanie stops a hard hat sitting properly; a long raincoat ends up over the safety harness. In this article we explain layered clothing, choosing rainwear, thermal gloves and headwear, and how they fit with other PPE. For the general plan for winter preparation, see our article on workplace safety in winter.
In Bursa and the surrounding provinces, a construction site on the coast and a site in the higher inland areas can see very different weather in the same week. It therefore gives better results to set the clothing kit by site and job rather than for the business as a whole.
Layered clothing: the job of the three layers
Layered clothing does what a single thick jacket cannot: the worker takes off a layer when starting heavy work and puts it back on while waiting. This reduces both sweating and getting cold. Each layer has a different job:
| Layer | Job | Suitable material | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inner layer | Moving sweat away from the skin, keeping the skin dry | Synthetic or wool thermal base layer | Cotton base layer; does not dry when wet and draws heat |
| Middle layer | Retaining body heat | Fleece, wool jumper, padded gilet | A single thick garment that restricts movement |
| Outer layer | Blocking wind and water | Waterproof, breathable fabric; taped seams | Non-breathable fabric; keeps sweat inside |
Single-piece padded overalls sold as winter workwear are a good option for work with little movement, such as a guard in a security hut or a traffic marshal standing at the same point for a long time. For work requiring effort, such as formwork, rebar or loading, a layered system gives better results.
The standards to look for on the product label are: TS EN 342 for clothing for cold environments, TS EN 14058 for clothing for cool environments and TS EN 343 for protective clothing against rain. The seller saying "winter" or "thermal" is not enough; the pictogram and values on the label show what conditions the garment was tested for.
What to look for when choosing rain workwear
Good rain workwear should protect the worker from rain without soaking them in their own sweat. When choosing, work in this order:
- Waterproofness and breathability: The TS EN 343 label has two separate values. One shows resistance to water getting in, the other resistance to vapour getting out. In heavy work, the second value is at least as important as the first.
- Seams and closures: Taped seams, a zip with a storm flap and adjustable cuffs at the wrist close off the points where water most often leaks.
- Cut: A jacket and trouser set is safer than a poncho. A poncho, which flaps in the wind and can get caught in machinery, should not be used near rotating equipment or when working at height.
- Visibility: On a site with machinery or vehicle traffic, a dark raincoat covers the high-visibility vest. Choose a raincoat with reflective tape, or have the vest worn over the raincoat. The regulation's list of jobs separately lists high-visibility clothing where the worker needs to be clearly seen.
- Hot work: For a worker doing welding, cutting or grinding, a synthetic outer layer can melt and stick when hit by spatter. The outer layer of these workers should be flame-resistant and suitable for the work.
Thermal gloves and headwear: keeping warm without losing dexterity
Choosing thermal gloves is a balancing act: very thick gloves keep the hands warm, but the worker takes them off to hold a small part. So think first about the dexterity the job requires, then about the cold.
Gloves protecting against cold are marked with TS EN 511. The three digits under the pictogram show, in order, insulation against convective cold, protection against contact with cold surfaces and waterproofness. If the glove also needs to protect against cuts or punctures, check the mechanical values as well; we explain how to read the markings in our article on choosing work gloves.
In practice, a solution that works well is two layers: a thin inner glove with a waterproof outer glove on top. Wet gloves should be changed immediately; spare gloves should be issued per shift for this. Refer a worker who uses vibrating hand tools and describes whitening, numbness or pain in their fingers to the workplace physician; cold can make these complaints worse.
The most common mistake with headwear is a thick beanie that stops the hard hat sitting properly. Under the hard hat, use a thin balaclava compatible with the harness or a winter liner recommended by the hard hat manufacturer. For a worker wearing ear defenders, thick headwear prevents the ear cushions from sealing against the head and reduces protection.
For the feet, waterproof, thermally insulated safety footwear and wool or synthetic socks are needed. Spare socks may seem like a small detail, but they prevent a whole shift spent with wet feet.
PPE compatibility: use with hard hats, harnesses and high-visibility clothing
Art. 6 of the Regulation on the Use of PPE requires that, where more than one item of PPE is to be used at the same time, they are suitable for use together. Winter clothing should not be issued without being tried together with the other PPE used on site.
| PPE used together | Common incompatibility | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Hard hat | A thick beanie raises the hard hat, the chin strap does not fasten | Thin liner under the hard hat; hood wide enough to go over the hard hat |
| Full body harness | Harness adjusted over thin clothing ends up loose or tight over a jacket | Adjust the harness while wearing winter clothing; readjust when clothing changes |
| High-visibility vest | Raincoat covers the vest | Raincoat with reflective tape, or vest worn as the outermost layer |
| Ear defenders | Headwear prevents the ear cups sealing | Thin headwear or earplugs |
| Respiratory protection | Scarves and balaclavas prevent the mask sealing to the face | No scarf under the mask; face fit check |
| Eye protection | Fogging in the cold | Glasses with an anti-fog coating |
The safety harness row is particularly important: if the chest and leg straps of the harness are loose over thick clothing, the harness may not hold the body correctly in a fall. Have the harness checked at the start of every shift with the clothing being worn that day.
The risk of wet clothing and a drying arrangement on site
Water conducts heat much faster than air. An inner layer wet from rain or sweat cancels out the protection of even the best outer layer. In a worker who stays out in the cold in wet clothing, persistent shivering appears first, followed by reduced dexterity and loss of concentration. These symptoms are warning signs of both cold-related illness and work accidents.
The legislation does not separately regulate the drying of wet workwear. However, Annex 4 of the Regulation on OHS in Construction Work requires that, in wet, dusty and dirty work, workwear is stored separately from everyday clothing and that open fires such as braziers and charcoal stoves are not used in accommodation areas. Set up the following arrangement on site:
- Keep at least one spare inner layer, pair of gloves and pair of socks per worker per shift.
- Set aside a heated, enclosed changing area where wet clothing can be changed.
- Use a drying cabinet or a ventilated room with hangers to dry clothing. Do not allow clothes to be hung on or right next to a heater; this arrangement is one of the common causes of winter fires.
- The shift supervisor should check the next morning that the clothing is dry; nobody should start work in damp clothing.
Selection and issue: step by step
- List the jobs. In the risk assessment, write down the jobs done outdoors, their duration and level of effort. Do this together with your OHS specialist.
- Set a kit for each job. The inner, middle and outer layers, gloves, headwear and footwear should be on a single line.
- Carry out a trial fitting. Have the kit worn with a hard hat, harness, vest and ear defenders and have the worker move around in it.
- Get workers' views. Art. 10 of the Regulation on the Use of PPE requires the views of workers and their representatives to be obtained in selection.
- Issue in the right size. An outer layer that is too big catches in machinery, and one that is too small does not allow layers to be added.
- Set issue and replacement rules. Put in writing the replacement criteria for clothing that is torn, has lost its waterproofness or whose reflective tape has faded. The general framework of PPE obligations is in our article on the Regulation on the Use of PPE.
- Give a short training session. Adding and removing layers, changing wet clothing and cold-related symptoms can be explained in a five-minute start-of-shift talk.
The 2026 base administrative fine for not providing suitable PPE is 8,980 TL per worker; details are in the OHS administrative fines tool. For other measures specific to construction sites, see our construction sector page and our article on the Regulation on OHS in Construction Work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the employer have to provide winter workwear?
Yes, if the risk assessment requires protective clothing because of cold or rain. This clothing is PPE and, under Art. 6 of the Regulation on the Use of PPE, is provided to the worker free of charge. Its maintenance and replacement when necessary are also the employer's responsibility.
Why is a cotton base layer not recommended?
Cotton absorbs sweat but does not release it easily. A cotton base layer that gets wet during heavy work forms a cold, wet layer on the skin during breaks. Synthetic or wool thermal base layers move sweat away from the skin and continue to retain heat even when wet.
What do the numbers on thermal gloves mean?
The three digits in the TS EN 511 marking show insulation against convective cold, protection against contact with cold surfaces and waterproofness. The higher the number, the greater the protection. If the glove will also protect against mechanical risks, the cut and puncture values should be checked separately.
Is a raincoat worn over or under the hard hat?
On a hooded raincoat, the hood should be wide enough to go over the hard hat. Wearing the hood under the hard hat raises the hard hat and makes it harder to fasten the chin strap. Only a thin liner compatible with the hard hat should be worn under it.
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Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.