The extremely low temperatures that have become a topic of conversation are of particular interest to those who have to work outside.

Several companies whose workers have to brave the elements as part of their work environments say they should dress in layers and take periodic breaks to get warm in the companies trucks.

Doug Vogel, vice president of Vogel Disposal in Mars, said about 65 percent of his residential garbage trucks are automated and the driver never leaves the heated cab.

But automation is not an option in some areas, like the homes in Butler. In those instances, Vogel said, workers still ride on the back of the rear-load trucks to retrieve refuse cans and dump their contents into the trucks.

He said the workers bundle up in layers, and climb into the heated cabs of the trucks every so often to warm up.

Vogel said he never cancels or postpones service due to extreme temperatures, but he has done so for extremely deep snow.

He said ice also can present a problem, mainly for commercial customers whose Dumpsters are in an unplowed parking lot.

“If it's too icy, obviously they are not going to take a chance on causing an accident,” Vogel said. “They'll come back a couple days later.”

He said while the hardy employees who work on the rear-load truck are accustomed to severe temperatures and dress accordingly, they do look forward to the signs of spring.

“Boy, that groundhog was right, huh?” Vogel said.

Matt Purvis Jr., president of Purvis Brothers in Mars, said the main problem his drivers have in severe winters when trying to deliver heating oil is driving on the long, icy or muddy driveways of some of his rural customers.

He said if a driveway or private lane is impassable, the driver will use a four-wheel-drive pickup truck outfitted with a smaller tank to provide the customer with enough heating oil to hold him over until the house is accessible.

“That's not uncommon,” Purvis said. “We were doing that a week ago when we had the icy weather.”

He said most homes have 275-gallon tanks in the basement for heating oil. Tanks buried underground normally have a 500- or 1,000-gallon capacity.

Purvis explained that he has customers who call when they need heating oil delivered, and customers who are on an automatic delivery system. He said the “will-call” customers often call for a delivery in extreme winter weather because they fear road conditions will prevent a delivery.

“It gets a little hectic because people get a little panicky,” Purvis said. “We'll do our best to get to them (the same day) if possible.”

He said Purvis Brothers buys its oil from a refinery in Newell, W.Va., which uses oil from Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

“It's the same oil found in the original discovery of oil in Titusville (Crawford County,)” Purvis said.

He said he never has a problem getting additional oil in a cold snap.

Purvis said he watches a forecast that predicts the weather 45 days in advance, but admits he can't rely on it too heavily. He said a few weeks ago, the forecast predicted an average temperature of 29 degrees Monday.

Monday's high was 3 and the low fell to minus 7.

“You can't work too far ahead because they don't always get it right too far ahead,” Purvis said.

Purvis said his 1,000-plus county customers should not worry about running out of oil, no matter how bad the weather becomes.

“I don't anticipate any serious issues in keeping our people warm,” he said.

Other companies

Pennsylvania American Water tries, as much as possible, to limit work on extreme weather days to emergency repairs only.

“If we do send employees out we make sure they have the necessary cold weather gear and that they take frequent breaks to get warm and keep their body hydrated,” said spokesman Gary Lobaugh.

He said the company educates workers about things like frostbite and hypothermia. He said the company tries to use days of extreme weather for things like training and cleanup at its facilities.

Peoples Natural Gas tells workers to avoid exposed skin and to dress in layers to avoid frostbite.

Spokesman Barry Kukovich also said it tells workers to be careful of another major problem that takes place during the cold.

“Our biggest problem is slipping and falling,” Kukovich said, saying that workers often end up working near broken water lines or pipes.

He said that the company advises workers to carry some sort of anti-slip material, such as sand.

Additionally, Kukovich said that the company tells workers to take a break periodically and get someplace warm, such as the company's trucks. He said this will give the worker's hearts a rest and will make then less likely to slip and fall while working.

The U.S. Postal Service advises its mail carriers to dress warmly and in layers, stay dry, wear clothes that block wind and moisture, eat high-energy snacks, drink plenty of water and to avoid overexerting themselves.

“We have daily safety talks with our employees both those on foot and behind the wheel to help them take precaution in severe cold temperatures such as we are experiencing,” said spokesman Tad Kelley.

He said employees are instructed to notify a supervisor if they are having any serious weather-related issue or appear to be developing frostbite.

Additionally, Kelly said USPS advises customers to clear pathways and driveways of snow and ice as much as possible to keep mail carriers safe.

Pets need protection

The family dog or cat might like to explore the outdoors, but such low temperatures can put them in dangerous territory if allowed to remain outside too long.

“In this weather, bring your pets indoors if you can,” said Michele Allen, executive director at the Butler County Humane Society.

Pets cannot sustain their body heat,” she said.

On the way in, wipe your dog's paws of salt or calcium products used to melt outdoor ice.

Those products can be harmful to the pet's feet.

Allen said she recognizes there will be extreme circumstances where families must leave their pets outdoors. In those cases, Allen said she recommends putting straw or bedding into the animal's box to keep him or her warm and dry. She recommends pine shavings, saw dust or even horse bedding.

While blankets might seem like a good idea, she said, they will get wet and freeze.

And while you are out at the pet's box, Allen recommends creating a flap out of a movable material like burlap to block the wind.

“And always be sure your pet's water bowl is not frozen,” Allen said.

Eagle staff writers Paula Grubbs, John Bojarski and Kim Paskorz contributed to this report.

Temperatures in Butler over the past four days have ranged from a high of 27 degrees about noon Saturday to a low of -11 between 4:30 and 6:30 a.m. Monday.The highs and lows from Saturday through 9 a.m. today were:Saturday — 27 and 1Sunday — 3 and -8Monday — 9 and -11Today — 9 and -2