Frigid temps not enough to stop some workers

LYNN – You may be spending this cold snap bundled up or staying inside, but for some it’s just another day at the office, and the office is outdoors.”You have to do the work when you can get it,” said roofer Jeff Harmon from atop a building at the corner of Pleasant and Broad streets.Harmon and Josh Ivester, of Ivester Roofing, said weather conditions were tough but not so bad that they would take the day off.”I wouldn’t feel right calling it off,” Ivester said.Ivester, clad in a navy blue hooded sweatshirt and no hat, stood on a ladder in the sun.”It’s not that bad,” he said.View a photo galleryHarmon, who hovered over the edge of the roof, disagreed. He urged Ivester to join him up high where the wind was significantly stronger.On Sewall Street, another group of roofers from A & M Construction battled the wind and the cold as they straddled the peaks and cleared the gutters on a two-story home. Down below Nube Jekanoski sat in a white panel truck with the heater going.”I was up there in the morning,” she said. “It is unbelievably freezing, very cold.”Jekanoski joked that she was wearing five pairs of pants to keep warm, along with a thermal suit, hat, gloves and heavy socks. She said Tuesday was warmer because there was no wind but they were only working half a day, “so it’s not that bad.”It’s better to work in the morning when there is sun,” she added. “By afternoon the sun is already going down.”Jeff Stowell stood in a patch of thin sunshine in Pine Grove Cemetery, the wind whipping through the trees, no hat, hands shoved in his pockets. Unlike the roofers who could have chosen to take the day off the Public Works Assistant Superintendent and his crew had little choice but to work, they had three burial services.Cold weather tips
Minimize outside activities, particularly the elderly and very young. Also, consider your pets.
If you do go out, dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, rather than a single layer of heavy clothing.
Keep a well-stocked Winter Home Emergency Supply Kit that includes flashlights, portable radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit, bottled water, non-perishable food, a manual can opener and extra heavy blankets.
To keep pipes from freezing, wrap them in insulation or layers of newspapers, covering the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture.
Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night to avoid pipes freezing.
Winterize your car as well by keeping the gas tank at least half-full, carry a Winter Emergency Car Kit in the trunk including blankets, extra clothing, flashlight with spare batteries, a can and waterproof matches, among other items.
And don’t forget to be a good neighbor. Check with elderly or relatives and friends who may need additional assistance to ensure their safety.
Facts courtesy of Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
See Friday’s Daily Item for more about Viger and his contribution to the city of Lynn.”There was a surprisingly good turnout,” he said regarding the services. “They just didn’t stay at graveside too long.”Like Jekanoski, Stowell said he and his men pile on the layers and take frequent breaks sitting in the trucks to keep warm.”In New Hampshire and Maine they stop all burials during the winter,” he said. “We do them all year round ? it’s very cold out here today.”The wind coming off the hill was brutal but Stowell said all in all it wasn’t a bad day.”It’s not like we’re outside constantly,” he said.Given his choice between working in the heat and the cold Stowell said he’d take the cold. Jekanoski agreed. She said last summer she worked a job when it was nearly 100 degrees and several workers passed out from the heat.Harmon and Ivester, however, said they’d take the heat any day.”If you’re on the roof in summer at least you get a tan,” Harmon chimed in.For those who are working outside in these extre