Fingers crossed, Chicago’s upcoming winter of 2026 will be less intense than in years past. Encouragement comes from the longstanding Farmer’s Almanac, forecasting Chicagoland will have “a milder winter with below average precipitation and patchy snow” while “lake effect snow is still probable – stay alert during December and March.”
But forecasts aren’t set in stone. Over the Thanksgiving Holiday winter weather records were already broken here: the City of Chicago had more snowfall than on any November day ever, with almost nine inches of snow falling on the Windy City this past Saturday. Read, “Powerful winter storm helps Chicago set new record Saturday,” written by James Neveau and published by NBCChicago on November 30, 2025.
Also read: “Farmer’s Almanac releases 2025-26 Chicago winter weather prediction,” written by NBC Chicago Staff and published by NBC Chicago on August 17, 2025; and “A wet winter ahead for Chicago? NOAA releases 2025-26 predictions,” written by Alix Marichoux and published by WGNRadio on November 20, 2025.
Chicago winters are never easy. The City of Chicago has plans in place for all sorts of things, from snow (flurries, showers, squalls, blowing snow, blizzard); sleet; and freezing rain. And despite winter predictions from reputable sources, Chicagoans know that things can get bad very fast.
In fact, December 2025 is being heralded as the “worst start to winter in nearly 150 years.” Read, “US City Faces ‘Worst Start to Winter’ in 250 Years,” written by Joe Edwards and published by Newsweek on December 1, 2025.
This does not mean that Chicago comes to a halt, of course. Chicagoans know how to deal with bad winter weather: we still go to work and school; our roadways are still being driven; and construction projects still go forward.
Fall Injury Dangers Facing Chicago Ironworkers from Ice, Wind, and Cold-Weather
Chicago ironworkers are at work on all sorts of important construction projects right now. There are the infrastructure endeavors (think bridges) in Cook County and surrounding Chicagoland as part of Project Rebuild Illinois. There are also big changes to the Chicago Skyline with the building of monoliths like the Bally’s Casino project and 400 Lake Shore. Read, Ironworkers: Great Dangers of On-the-Job Injury in Cook County, Illinois.
Whenever there is new construction or renovation of any structure that requires structural steel components, ironworkers are needed. On larger projects, they will be organized into crews. Think the Raising Gang; the Plumbing Crew; the Bolting Crew; the Welding Crew; the Decking Crew; the Detail Crew. On smaller jobs, the ironworkers will handle the work of one or more of these groups. See: Steel Erection Best Practices for Crew Sizes published by Steel Estimating Solutions.
Among these ironworkers, connectors on the Raising Gang may be the most at risk for fall accidents, since they work at impressive heights above the ground. Driving nearby to the project, you can look up and see these ironworkers on the job.
Connectors, as well as all Chicago ironworkers on the job, face severe fall dangers in our cold winter weather due to environmental factors that compromise their body stability, their ability to see (visibility), and their actual physical function.
Consider the following:
1. Slippery Walking and Working Surfaces
Ironworkers know to step carefully on their jobsite. They know to wear footgear appropriate to the place, like waterproof tactical winter boots. Having the proper personal protective equipment (that fits) is extremely important in this line of work.
Of note, it is infuriating to realize that a special federal regulation had to be passed to force employers not just to provide PPE, but to make sure it fits properly. Read, Shocking New Federal Rule for Construction Worker Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
In Chicago, ironworkers working in winter weather know that structural steel, scaffolding, and temporary decking will rapidly accumulate thin ice; black ice; or become slick with compacted snow. Black ice is particularly dangerous, since it is invisible to the human eye.
The winter weather accumulations on walking paths as well as work surfaces makes it difficult for the ironworker to gain traction. It’s terrifying to realize that even a slight misstep on what looks like just a wet beam can lead to a catastrophic fall from height caused by black ice.
For more on black ice, read, Black Ice Accidents in Illinois and Indiana: Liability for Crash Injuries.
Add to this, Chicago ironworkers will be on task with unprotected edges and narrow beams. They will deal with vulnerable surfaces on ladders, stairs, and scaffolds. Even falls from a relatively small height (say, six feet) can cause life-altering harm or even death to the ironworker.
For more, read: Deadly Construction Accidents: Falls Remain a Leading Cause of Death for Construction Workers.
2. The Windy City’s High Winds
Chicago is known as the “Windy City” for a reason. Ironworkers here must deal with our lakeside location unique high winds, a specific fall danger for any ironworker at a height.
High winds can cause scaffolding to become unstable or to sway. High winds can push the human being, where the ironworker may lose their balance due to the force of the gust.
There is also the wind chill. Wind chill lowers the human body temperature, and can reduce the ironworker’s physical ability to respond or to act fast, contributing to a fatal fall. The wind chill can also contribute to the accumulation of ice, black ice, or snow.
3. Low Temperatures in Chicago Winter Cold
It gets very cold here in Chicago. When ironworkers are on the job in very low temperatures, even without a wind, their bodies will be at risk of losing dexterity and grip strength in their hands and fingers. They face an increased risk of falling because they may not be able to grab securely, or to keep hold of a safety line. Fingers can go numb.
Brain fog or fatigue can happen without the ironworker being aware of confusion or loss of alertness. Impaired thinking increases the risks of falling as the ironworker will have slower reaction times, and less sharp judgment when faced with sudden fall dangers.
Duties of Care and Safety Due to Chicago Ironworkers Facing Danger of Winter Fall Accidents
Ironworkers in the Chicago area, as well as surrounding Chicagoland, are heavily protected from fall accidents on the job by federal regulation and state law, in addition to industrial safety standards.
Chicago ironworkers and their loved ones must be alert to the legal duties of safety and care that all those with possession, custody, or control of aspects of the worksite are mandated to meet. Failures to do so (breaches of these duties) create legal liabilities for monetary damages that are independent from any workers’ compensation insurance claim for benefits made by the injured ironworker.
- For instance, the risk of ice or snow on an ironworker’s job site demands reasonable and prudent site maintenance. It may need to be constant during bad winter weather conditions, where workers (maybe contractors) handle the manual clearing of sleet, snow, and ice. Housekeeping is very important on any Chicago ironworker site in the wintertime.
- Another duty created by law is to make sure all ironworkers are on the job with the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including boots; gloves; headgear; etc. Bulky layered work clothing is necessary to keep ironworkers safe from the cold temperatures and dry from the precipitation.
- Frequent breaks during winter work can keep people safe from fall accidents, too. Break schedules, both scheduled and unplanned, are mandated by law. Winter weather must be carefully monitored by the powers-that-be. Ironworkers must be called off their jobsite as necessary to protect against fall risks due to changing weather conditions.
For more, read:
- Fatal Falls in Construction Caused by Employers Failing to Plan for Worker Safety
- Fatal Falls on the Job and the Employers Failure to Protect Worker From Fall Risk
- Construction Worker Deaths: Almost Half of All Construction Fatalities Caused by Falls
- Work Accident in Illinois or Indiana: Workers Compensation Claim vs. Personal Injury Damages
- Ironworkers in Indiana and Illinois: High Risk of Serious or Fatal Injuries on the Job.
Ironworkers in Chicago are workers facing some of the greatest risks of death or permanent injury in a fall accident of anyone on the job. These dangers are shocking whenever winter weather conditions become fierce in Chicagoland. Please be careful out there!
