5 Ways Electrical Training Can Prepare You for Winter Work

An electrician performs both interior and exterior work in all kinds of conditions. As you prepare to become a certified electrician, you will build experience for all kinds of situations. One of the important times to learn skills is through the winter. The winter presents unique challenges for electricians, and training courses will provide the skills needed.

Learn about specific training methods and how to advance your skills through the coldest months of the year.

1. Glove Work

During cold weather, you shouldn’t leave your hands exposed to frigid temperatures. Training courses will allow you to get used to working with gloves on. The thickness of gloves may make it harder to hold tools, organize wires, and work with small parts. However, the more you work with gloves, the easier you will be able to master tasks.

You also get a chance to try out different gloves to see what works best for your needs. For example, you may choose fingerless gloves to help give your fingertips access to the small parts. Thicker gloves may provide warmth and electrical protection.

2. Cold Temperature Exposure

Protecting your hands from the cold isn’t the only focus when working in the winter. When you work outdoors on buildings without power, you will likely have little access to heat. You can learn to adapt and work through cold temperatures.

Even if your classes take place on warmer days, you may have times where you work on refrigeration systems and can get used to colder climates. For example, a training school may have you work on walk-in freezers to test out and repair components.

The cold temperatures can replicate outdoor temperatures and give you an idea of what winter electrical work is like.

3. Safety Courses

Winter weather brings new safety elements to the electrical field. Through extensive safety courses, you can learn about proper snow and ice removal and how to navigate snowy areas. Safety courses also focus on ladder safety.

In the winter, you have to be aware of where you lean a ladder against, what type of ground to stabilize the ladder, and how to safely climb up and down a ladder in winter. The winter is known for strong winds, and you can learn how to make the best safety decisions while you are out in the cold.

Safety courses will also cover signs of personal health problems. Winter weather brings dangers like hypothermia, snow blindness, and frostbite. You can learn about what each condition is, how to avoid them, and what steps to take if any of the issues occur.

4. Lighting Work

Along with bad weather, winter is known for short days and long nights. The sun may set early, but electricians do not cut their work shifts short. When dealing with darkness, electrical courses will often teach you some lighting techniques. You can learn how to quickly handle and use gear like flashlights. You can also learn the proper way to wear and adjust headlamps.

For large outdoor projects, training courses can teach you how to set up spotlights and work lights. Each skill will ensure you can work during the winter and have the proper lighting to complete tasks safely.

5. Apprenticeship

Another big part of electrical training is an apprenticeship. Through the program, you will work in the field under the guidance of an electrician. An electrician will take you on real job sites, and ideally, you should spend a large portion of your time out during the winter months.

In the winter, you can see hands-on how an electrician performs tasks, deals with winter weather, and handles tough situations. You will get to do the work and build the experience necessary for many more winter seasons in the future.

Find out about all our courses available at Independent Electrical Contractors of Greater Cincinnati. Your training can take you far and give you skills for all seasons of the year.