As the Northeast begins digging out from Winter Storm Niko, those of us sitting inside ourhomes and offices, safe and warm, are thinking about those who haveto be at work, regardless of the weather.

For example, firefighters, police officers, medical personnel,utility company personnel and snow removal employees have no choicebut to face the hazards of winter weather.

And as the clean-up after the storm begins, employees in otherindustries will be dealing with severe weather conditions toget their businesses back in operation.

Related: 6 steps to maximize business insurance recoveriesbefore the next weather event

In addition to cold stress, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA) reminds us, there are other winter weather-related hazardsthat workers may be exposed to when performing tasks such asdriving in the snow, removing snow from rooftops, and working neardowned or damaged power lines.

If you're in one of the top states for claims related to freezingtemperatures, you know that clearing roads and rooftopspromptly is the key to minimizing damage to property and preventinginjuries.

Here are some tips from OSHA for employers on keeping employeessafe when they're facing these winter weather hazards:

A Potelco Inc. truck doing work for Puget Sound Energydrives down a rural road to work on a power outage in a remote areanear Eatonville, Wash., Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Ted S.Warren)

1. Winterdriving

Although employers can't control roadway conditions, they canpromote safe driving behavior by ensuring that their workers:

• Recognize the hazards of winter weather driving, for example,driving on snow- or ice-covered roads;
• Are properly trained for driving in winter weather conditions;and
• Are licensed (as applicable) for the vehicles theyoperate.

Employers should set and enforce driver safety policies.Employers should also implement an effective maintenance programfor all vehicles and mechanized equipment that workers are requiredto operate.

Related: It's winter! Do you know the biggest risks on theroad in your region?

Employers should ensure properly trained workers inspect thevehicle systems, such as brakes, tires and the exhaust system, todetermine whether they're working properly, and make immediaterepairs if they aren't.

Workers who have to be out in winter weather, especially instorms, should all carry emergency kits that include thefollowing:

• Cellphone or two-way radio.
• Windshield ice scraper, snow brush and shovel.
• Flashlight with extra batteries.
• Tow chain.
• Traction aids (bag of sand or cat litter).
• Emergency flares and a first-aid kit.
• Jumper cables.
• Snacks and water.
• Road maps.
• Blankets and a change of clothes.

Traffic navigates a construction zone in SaratogaSpring, N.Y., on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012. (AP Photo/MikeGroll)

2. Workzonetrafficsafety

Workers being struck by vehicles or mobile equipment lead tomany work zone fatalities or injuries annually. Drivers may skid,or lose control of their vehicles more easily when driving on snowyor icy roads, or in a storm with significantly reducedvisibility.

Related: 10 states with the worst drivers

Employers must ensure that work zones are correctly set up withthe traffic controls identified by signs, cones, barrels andbarriers, to protect workers.

Workers exposed to vehicular traffic should wear the appropriatehigh visibility vest at all times, so that they can be easily seenby motorists.

Soldiers with the 275th Military Police company, and aWashington Firefighter, in a Humvee, assist a stranded motorist inthe snow on I-395, Jan. 23, 2016 in Washington. (AP Photo/AlexBrandon)

3. Stranded in avehicle

Employers should train employees on what to do if they'restranded in a vehicle.

• Stay in the vehicle. Call for emergency assistance if needed,recognizing that response time may be slow in severe winter weatherconditions.
• Notify your supervisor of your situation. Don't leave thevehicle to search for assistance unless help is visible within 100yards. You may become disoriented and get lost in blowing anddrifting snow.
• Display a trouble sign by hanging a brightly colored cloth onthe vehicle's radio antenna and raising the hood.
• Turn on the vehicle's engine for about 10 minutes each hour andrun the heat to keep warm. Also, turn on the vehicle's dome lightwhen the vehicle is running as an additional signal. Beware ofcarbon monoxide poisoning. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, andopen a downwind window slightly for ventilation.
• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia. Do minorexercises to maintain good blood circulation in your body. Clapyour hands and move your arms and legs occasionally. Try not tostay in one position for too long. Stay awake, you will be lessvulnerable to cold-related health problems. Use blankets,newspapers, maps and even the removable car mats for addedinsulation.
• Avoid overexertion since cold weather puts an added strain onthe heart. Unaccustomed exercise such as shoveling snow or pushinga vehicle can bring on a heart attack or make other medicalconditions worse.

Related: Top 5 most common workplace accidents andinjuries

Jose Rodriguez shovels snow off a dock on the ice-chokedJames river near downtown Richmond, Va., Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. (APPhoto/Steve Helber)

4. Shovelingsnow

Shoveling snow can be a strenuous activity, particularly becausecold weather can be taxing on the body. There is a potential forexhaustion, dehydration, back injuries or heart attacks.

Related: 10 tips for lifting safely on thejob

During snow removal in addition to following the tips foravoiding cold stress, such as taking frequent breaks in warm areas,there are other precautions workers can take to avoid injuries.

Workers should warm-up before the activity, scoop small amountsof snow at a time and where possible, push the snow instead oflifting it. The use of proper lifting technique is necessary toavoid back and other injuries when shoveling snow:

• Keep the back straight,
• Lift with the legs, and
• Don't turn or twist the body.

U.S. Park Service employees use snow blowers to clear thesidewalk of Edward R. Murrow park, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 inWashington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

5. Usingsnow removalequipment

It's important to make sure that powered equipment, such as snowblowers, are properly grounded to protect workers from electricshocks or electrocutions. When performing maintenance or cleaning,make sure the equipment is properly guarded and is disconnectedfrom power sources.

Related: 6 parking lot perils property owners need to payattention to

Snow blowers commonly cause lacerations or amputations whenoperators attempt to clear jams with the equipment turned on. Trainworkers to never attempt to clear a jam by hand.

• Turn the snow blower off and wait for all moving parts tostop.
• Use a long stick to clear wet snow or debris from themachine.
• Keep your hands and feet away from moving parts.

Workers should refuel a snow blower before starting the machineand never add fuel when the equipment is running or when the engineis hot.

Workers clear snow from a roof in Boston, Monday, Feb. 16,2015. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

6. Clearing snowfrom roofs andworking atheights

Employers must evaluate snow removal tasks for hazards and planhow to do the work safely. Workers should be aware of the potentialfor unexpected hazards due to the weather conditions, for example,layers of ice can form as the temperature drops, making surfaceseven more slippery. A surface that's weighed down by snow must beinspected by a competent person to determine whether it'sstructurally safe for workers to access it, because it may be atrisk of collapsing.

Related: Do's and don'ts for safely removing snow from yourroof

Snow-covered rooftops can hide hazards such as skylights thatworkers can fall through. overhead power lines or snow removalequipment can also cause electrical hazards.

Employers can protect workers from these hazardous workconditions, for example, by using snow-removal methods that don'tinvolve workers going on roofs, when and where possible. Employersshould determine the right type of equipment, such as ladders oraerial lifts, and personal protective equipment (PPE), such aspersonal fall arrest systems, for the job and ensure that workersare trained on how to properly use them.

Alberto Chavez of Detroit, treads lightly on slipperysidewalks while making a bread delivery to a local supermarket onFeb. 21, 2011 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza)

7. Preventing slips on snow and ice

To prevent slips, trips and falls, employers should clearwalking surfaces of snow and ice, and spread de-icer, as quickly aspossible after a winter storm. In addition, the followingprecautions will help reduce the likelihood of injuries:

• Require employees to wear proper footwear when walking on snowor ice is unavoidable, because it is especially treacherous. A pairof insulated and water resistant boots with good rubber treads is amust for walking during or after a winter storm.
• Suggest that employees keep a pair of rubber over-shoes withgood treads that fit over street shoes at the workplace during thewinter months.
• Remind employees to take short steps and walk at a slower paceso they can react quickly to a change in traction, for example,when walking on an icy or snow-covered walkway.

Related: Here are the top 10 most costly U.S. workplaceinjuries

DeKalb County fire department Capt. Kevin James secures adowned power line that disrupted electricity to 200 residents atthe Marquis at Lenox apartments when freezing rain, sleet and snowbrought down a tree that crashed into transformer and damagedseveral vehicles during a winter storm on Feb. 12, 2014, inAtlanta. (AP Photo/David Tulis)

8. Repairing downedor damagedpowerlines

A common problem during a blizzard or other winter storm can bea power outage. Repairing or replacing damagedpower lines in severe winter weather conditions is especiallyhazardous to workers. The moisture in snow can reduce theinsulation value of protective equipment and could causeelectrocution. In these conditions de-energized work is safer, butif energized work must be done, qualified workers and supervisorsmust first conduct a hazard analysis that includes evaluating theweather conditions and identifying how to safely do the job.

Other potential hazards include:

• Electrocution by touching downed energized power lines orobjects, such as broken tree limbs, in contact with downedenergized power lines,
• Fires caused by an energized line or equipment failure,and
• Being struck or crushed by falling tree limbs or collapsingutility poles.

When working on downed or damaged power lines, electricalutility workers should use safe work practices, as well asappropriate tools and equipment (including PPE).

Related: Have a backup generator? Make sure you do these 13things

Derrick Lonneker climbs up a downed power pole, as he worksto repair a transmission line damaged by a falling tree near asubstation, Jan. 20, 2012, in Olympia, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S.Warren)

9. Workingneardowned ordamaged powerlines

As employees clear parking lots and sidewalks, or return toworking on construction projects, for example, they might encounterdowned power lines.

Related: How to avoid insurance coverage disputes followingelectric and gas outages

Employers should train workers to assume that all powerlines are energized and stay clear of any that have been knockeddown or damaged by winter weather, which could include a storm oricicles hanging from the lines.

When workers find downed or damaged power lines, they shouldestablish a safe zone, some distance away from power lines andreport any incidents to the responsible authority. Only properlytrained electrical utility workers can handle damaged powerlines.

Workmen clear a downed tree blocking a school bus in theaftermath of a winter storm, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, in Downingtown,Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

10. Removingdownedtrees

Clearing downed trees is a critical job during severe winterweather conditions, and the job often falls to emergency crews toremove any trees that block public roads and damage powerlines.

• Potential hazards include:
• Electrocution by contacting downed energized power lines orcontacting broken tree limbs in contact with downed energized powerlines,
• Falls from heights, or
• Being injured by equipment such as chain saws and woodchippers.

Workers should wear PPE that protects them from the hazards ofthe tree removal tasks. Workers using chainsaws and chippers toclear downed trees should use gloves, chaps, foot protection, eyeprotection, fall protection, hearing protection and headprotection.

Related: 15 costliest U.S. winter weather events by insuredlosses, 1980–2015

Only powered equipment designed for outdoor and wet conditionsshould be used. Use all equipment and tools (such as saws andchippers) properly and for the purpose that they are designedfor.

Ensure that equipment is always maintained in serviceablecondition and inspected before use by a knowledgeable person whocan identify any problems with the equipment. Don't use equipmentthat is not functioning properly.

Equipment must have proper guarding; safe guards must never bebypassed. All controls and safety features must function asdesigned by the manufacturer.