Construction inclement weather policy – a complete checklist for managing delays, safety, and operations in severe weather

How to make an inclement weather policy for a construction site and help employees and businesses prepare for severe weather

Construction work is frequently affected by weather disruptions such as heavy rainfall, strong winds, freezing temperatures, snow, and even heatwaves. These conditions can compromise employee safety, damage materials and machinery, and make it impossible to carry out certain construction activities—especially those involving height, concrete pouring, groundworks, or crane operations.

To manage this effectively, every construction project—regardless of size or location—should include a clearly written weather policy. This policy must be practical, easy to apply on-site, and rooted in objective criteria like wind speed, rainfall, temperature, and visibility.

A good inclement weather policy does more than list thresholds. It also outlines how decisions are made, who is responsible, how employees get information, and how delays are documented and factored into the schedule. It helps ensure that workers are protected, equipment is secured, and expectations are managed from the outset.

For construction companies, the benefits are twofold:

Operational clarity and safety – preventing accidents and ensuring that work only proceeds under safe, manageable conditions.
Contractual confidence – avoiding legal or financial disputes with clients, suppliers, or insurers by showing a clear and consistent approach to weather-related delays.

This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step checklist tailored for construction projects. It will help you create or evaluate your policy, ensuring that your team, subcontractors, and clients are aligned before, during, and after any adverse weather.

From defining measurable weather thresholds and establishing communication protocols to logging data and managing extensions of time, the checklist will help turn business policies into a reliable, day-to-day tool—not just a legal formality.

By taking the time to prepare for inclement weather, you not only reduce risks—you increase the chances that your project can stay on track and meet its deadlines, even when the weather doesn’t cooperate.

Step 1: Define inclement weather using measurable criteria

Your policy should avoid vague terms like “bad weather.” Instead, define thresholds using quantifiable, region-appropriate units.

Checklist:

Rainfall exceeding 6 mm per hour or 20 mm in 24 hours
Wind speeds exceeding 60 km/h
Snow accumulation greater than 2 cm within 12 hours
Ambient temperatures below –5°C or above +35°C
Ground frost or icy surfaces creating unsafe working conditions
Limited visibility due to dense fog (visibility < 100 meters)

Base these figures on historical averages for your location. Conditions that significantly exceed the regional norm should be considered inclement.

Step 2: Choose expert weather data sources

Make sure your weather data is reliable, consistent, and regionally accepted.

Checklist:

Install an on-site weather station for hyper-local data
Set standard review times (e.g., 07:00 and 14:00)
Record actual measurements rather than forecasts for daily site decisions
Log all weather data in a dedicated system or shared project folder

This data provides the backbone for any decisions made about delays or safety shutdowns.

Step 3: Assign decision-making responsibility

It must be crystal clear who can suspend site activities based on severe weather.

Checklist:

Designate a responsible person (e.g., site manager or health & safety officer)
Include alternates in case of absence
Outline the decision-making process in the site induction and safety manual
Clearly communicate these roles to subcontractors and all site staff

Having a single point of authority prevents miscommunication and ensures consistent application.

Step 4: Establish site-wide work suspension protocols

Stopping or modifying work for weather should follow a standard operating procedure.

Checklist:

Set limits for working at heights during wind > 50 km/h
Define crane and hoist suspension thresholds (typically > 60–65 km/h)
Plan shutdown of pouring concrete if temperatures are below 0°C
Require immediate suspension if snow accumulation exceeds 2 cm
Develop a checklist for securing materials, tools, and equipment during storms

Make these protocols part of your site health and safety plan.

Step 5: Communicate weather decisions effectively

Timely communication helps ensure safety and minimize downtime confusion.

Checklist:

Use consistent channels (e.g., SMS, site app, radio, WhatsApp group)
Set notification deadlines (e.g., by 06:30 on site start days)
Standardize messages for closures or modified schedules
Include key contractors and suppliers in distribution lists
Keep records of all weather-related messages and decisions

Clarity avoids delays, misinterpretation, or incomplete site attendance.

Step 6: Document poor conditions and site impacts

Thorough documentation protects both the contractor and the client.

Checklist:

Maintain a daily weather log for the site
Save data reports (screenshots, PDFs) from meteorological services
Take time-stamped photographs of affected site areas
Note specific impacts (e.g., flooded access routes, unsafe scaffolding)
Store documentation in a centralized folder or project management system

These records may support delay claims, contract disputes, or insurance processes.

Step 7: Link delays to schedule and program

A delay is only legitimate if it's accounted for in your project planning.

Checklist:

Define the number of “expected” weather days for the region/season
Establish thresholds (e.g., 7 weather days per month in winter) beyond which time extensions apply
Specify how weather days will be logged in the project Gantt chart
Indicate how delays are offset (e.g., weekend work, task resequencing)
Align weather-related delays with official request-for-extension processes

Contract administrators and clients must understand how these delays impact delivery timelines.

Step 8: Clarify financial handling of weather delays

Weather-related costs can be a source of dispute. Define your approach early.

Checklist:

Confirm if force majeure includes extreme weather events
Specify if non-compensable delays (time only, no money) apply
Define treatment of rented equipment during shutdowns
Set clear rules about whether workers are paid during stoppages
Confirm who bears the cost of rework or material waste due to weather

Public works contracts often accept delay claims but not cost compensation unless explicitly stated.

Step 9: Prioritise safety in all conditions

Harsh weather significantly increases the risk of injury or fatal accidents.

Checklist:

Establish cold weather PPE requirements (e.g., gloves, thermal boots, layered clothing)
Implement hydration and shade stations in temperatures above 30°C
Monitor for signs of frostbite, heat exhaustion, or slipping hazards
Suspend scaffold, roof, or lift work during strong winds or icy conditions
Include weather-specific safety briefings in toolbox talks

Step 10: Review and update the policy annually

Weather patterns are shifting. Your policy should evolve with them.

Checklist:

Schedule an annual review of the weather policy
Involve safety officers, project managers, and subcontractors
Recalibrate thresholds based on the past year’s actual weather
Update templates, forms, and contract references as needed
Share revised versions during site inductions and kick-off meetings

Use lessons learned from past projects to refine your policy continually.

Why every site needs a bulletproof policy for inclement weather

Well-structured policies are more than just a contractual safeguard. They are a critical part of responsible site risk management that protects workers, reduces risk, and keeps projects moving forward.

By implementing a clear and actionable policy—using the checklist above—you can:

Maintain safe working conditions year-round
Define when work should pause due to unsafe conditions like high winds, heavy rain, or extreme temperatures, protecting workers and preventing accidents.
Avoid miscommunication during delays
Establish roles, responsibilities, and notification procedures so all site teams and subcontractors know what to expect when weather strikes.
Protect your timelines with defensible documentation
Log real-time weather data and impacts to support delay claims, manage client expectations, and meet contractual obligations.
Comply with national safety regulations
Align your procedures with legal requirements for worker safety and site conditions under EU directives and local health and safety laws.

In an era of increasingly unpredictable weather and tighter project schedules, no construction site can afford to be unprepared. A proactive weather policy is not just about managing disruption—it’s about showing your clients, teams, and regulators that your project is built on foresight, safety, and professionalism.