Some Calgarians working outside despite extreme cold

Calgary’s extreme temperature is making it difficult to even commute in the city but what about those who have to work out in the cold even when the temperature falls below 30 C? It’s not easy, but those workers have figured out ways to do it safely.

“Minus thirty — I have lived in it all my life, so I am pretty comfortable and I dress appropriately for the weather, multiple layers, take breaks, hop inside a vehicle that’s nice and toasty, warm,” Coleton Sweep, Snow and Ice Control, City of Calgary, told CityNews. “Once you have a lot of layers on, you start working and moving, you heat up pretty quick.”

It’s challenging, but Sweep says he loves his job with the city and says layering up and eating a protein diet helps him cope with the extreme temperatures.

In a statement to CityNews the city says it has a plan in place for all their outdoor and field employees who work through extreme weather conditions.

“We distribute a work warm up schedule that shows the recommended frequency of warm up breaks during outdoor shifts in extremely cold conditions,” the city said. “For example, when it feels like -40°C to -42°C, there is a minimum of one 10-minute warm up break every 30 minutes.

Read more: Extreme cold impacting Calgary Transit, YYC, gas pumps, schools, and more Friday

“When the temperature reaches -43°C or below with the wind chill, non-emergency, outdoor work stops.”

It seemed outdoor work was put on hold for many construction sites across the city but those still working onsite were struggling to stay warm.

“Outside it’s difficult, inside it’s good,” one worker said.

“We basically take micro breaks to stay warm, so we will go inside and warm up whenever we get too cold but its definitely difficult, its definitely hard,” said another.

The city says if you see someone who needs assistance during this cold snap, call the HELP Team at 403-998-7388 or if someone is in serious distress or non-responsive, call 911.