Winter Site Setup Checklist | Heating, Lighting, Welfare Units & Fencing

As the colder months roll in, construction and site projects don’t stop, but the weather   conditions regularly change. Shorter days, wet weather and low temperatures bring new challenges for site managers who need to keep projects running safely, efficiently and on schedule.

At Total Hire & Sales, we help contractors and site managers across the Midlands set up their sites for safe and efficient winter working. From heaters and lighting towers to site cabins, welfare units, fencing, and more, we’ve got everything you need — delivered where and when you need it.

To help you prepare, we’ve put together a Winter Site Setup Checklist that covers the essentials: heating, lighting, welfare facilities and fencing.

1. Heating Solutions for Cold Worksites

Cold weather doesn’t just slow down your team, it can also damage materials and equipment.

Hiring is the cost-effective way to get the right unit for the job, without investing in seasonal equipment that you’ll only need for a few months.

To help keep your team and your equipment warm, you could consider:

Total Hire Tip 💡: Always size your heater to the space required and ensure the area is well ventilated. 

2. Lighting: Keeping your Site Safe & Productive

With daylight fading by 4pm in winter in the UK, effective lighting is critical for both safety and productivity.

At Total Hire and Sales we have a range of temporary lighting solutions in stock and available for hire. Options to look at include:

Total Hire Tip 💡: Plan lighting layouts and consider power requirements in advance of delivery. Position towers to cover walkways, storage zones, and active work areas to reduce accidents and downtime.

3. Welfare Units: Comfort & Compliance

By law, every site in the UK must provide suitable welfare facilities for people working on site. In winter, this becomes even more important, not just for compliance, but for keeping your workforce motivated and well cared for.

Our dedicated Site Accommodation team recommend the following welfare essentials for comfortable and compliant site: 

Total Hire Tip 💡: Welfare units with integrated generators make setup simple and ensure you can keep heating and lighting running in remote or temporary sites.

4. Fencing: Security & Site Safety

In winter, dark evenings and reduced visibility make site security and pedestrian safety even more important.

Fencing and site security solutions from Total Hire and Sales include: 

  • Security fencing: Protects your site, deters theft and keeps equipment safe during long winter nights.
  • Pedestrian fencing: Keeps dedicated walkways and access points clearly marked, reducing accidents in poor light or icy conditions.

Total Hire Tip 💡: Combine fencing with lighting towers for maximum security and safety around site boundaries and public access areas.

5. Extra Considerations for Winter on Site

  • Ground protection: Prevents muddy access routes and vehicle bog-downs.
  • Frost protection: For water supplies, welfare tanks and machinery.
  • Fuel management: Keep tanks topped up to avoid delays in bad weather.

Why Hire Equipment Instead of Buying?

  • Flexibility – you only pay for what you need, when you need it. With flexible hire terms and day, weekend and week-long rates. 
  • Latest equipment – modern, well-maintained, efficient heaters, lighting and fencing solutions.
  • Support – our team can help you find the right kit for the job and offer local and national delivery, setup and regular maintenance.

Plan Ahead with Total Hire & Sales

Get in touch with our team today to discuss your winter site requirements and ensure your project runs smoothly, whatever the weather.