“Fall Back” Into Safety - O'Connor Company

By: Rebecca Ciganek, EHS Director

As we head into the fall and winter months, we’re faced with daylight savings, unpredictable weather, the stress of the holidays, and for some, a shift in mood or seasonal blues. The construction industry has long overlooked how these seasonal changes impact construction workers both on and off the job. In an environment filled with people conditioned to push through, it’s time we take an honest look at the effects these seasonal changes have on construction workers and the safety of the jobsite.

Some might think that “falling back” gives an extra hour of sleep, which sounds helpful, but the schedules held on a construction project call for early morning starts and often extended days. According to a study of construction workers published through PubMed Central (PMC), 63% of them fell into the poor-quality sleep category, and 100% had at least one risk factor for daytime
fatigue (1). When workers are waking up in the dark to make a 6 a.m. huddle and leaving in the dark at the end of the day, the lack of natural light and inconsistent weather increases the risk of on-the-job incidents. OSHA notes that there is an increased risk of injury when working long hours or during non-standard shifts.

Understanding that fatigue directly affects reaction time, decision-making, and hazard recognition (2), it is consistently cited as one of the four most common human states contributing to incidents on jobsites (as determined through root-cause analysis). Yet, during the “fall back” season, fatigue becomes a rationalized risk because the work must go on.

We now layer in the changing weather and fluctuating temperatures. Rain, wind, ice, and snow can turn a construction site into a high-risk situation in a matter of minutes. Surfaces that were safe can quickly become slick, frozen, or buried under mud. Heavy equipment operators must navigate wet, unstable, or frozen ground in environments where visibility can be tricky. Often leaving deep track divots in high-traffic pedestrian worker areas.

Inside, concrete floors become slick, and electrical equipment has the potential to be exposed to moisture or standing water, creating the risk of shock.

For the construction worker, it isn’t as simple as “wear the right gear.” Bulky jackets and overalls can restrict movement, and boot treads can easily become clogged with mud or ice. These, in addition to, limited opportunities to take breaks, warm up, eat, and stay hydrated, make working in changing weather a potentially risky business.

Shorter days, layered with fatigue, changing weather, holiday expectations, and the push to meet year-end deadlines can trigger seasonal blues or Seasonal Depression Disorder (SAD). It’s more common than people think and often overlooked because it hides behind phrases like “just tired,” “burned out,” or “busy season.” According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 83% of construction workers report struggling with mental health (3). And the American Psychological Association reports 58% of U.S. adults cite money or holiday spending as a major stressor (4).

As we move into this time of year, it’s the perfect opportunity to take a proactive approach to safety, not out of fear, but out of care for our people and pride in our work. Seasonal changes bring new conditions to navigate, and instead of seeing them as obstacles, we can use them as prompts to reset, refocus, and strengthen our habits. By being intentional, reevaluating risks, planning smart
mitigation, and using the data to guide our decisions, we’re choosing to value our workforce. We are supporting them with what they need to stay safe, stay healthy, and keep building with confidence. Every adjustment we make now helps ensure that everyone goes home safe, not just during the season, but long after it.

Mitigations that can make an immediate impact:

Shift morning huddles to include weather and fatigue check-ins: “What changed overnight?”
Prioritize high-risk tasks for daylight hours.
Add industrial rugs at entrances and dry walking surfaces before starting work, especially stairs, ladders, and walk paths.
Encourage warming, hydration, and food breaks. Cold, hungry, or dehydrated workers rush and take shortcuts.
Stop normalizing communications like: “I’m tired,” or “just busy” “Holiday stress”.
Take notice if someone’s countenance is continually down and chat with a supervisor about offering resources to help.

At the end of the day, every schedule and milestone exists because people keep showing up and pushing forward. People who are tired, stretched thin by the season, yet still doing their part. This time of year, don’t just walk past the comments. Take notice. Slow down. Check in. Safety isn’t just planning; it’s valuing the person beside you and investing in their well-being. Remember: you are only as safe as the person working next to you.

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