As winter sets in, businesses face an increased risk of slips, trips, and falls, particularly as icy conditions, wet floors, and snow create hazards both indoors and outdoors. These accidents not only result in injuries but can also lead to a loss in productivity, and costly compensation claims. Ensuring workplace safety during the winter months is essential to protect your employees and maintain a safe working environment. Stay ahead of changing weather conditions and understand what it is you need to protect your employees with our safety training courses.
Here are key strategies for managing seasonal risks and preventing these common accidents.
1. Maintaining safe walkways:
Icy and slippery walkways are one of the primary causes of workplace falls during the winter months. Ensure all outdoor pathways, parking areas, and entrances are kept clear of ice and snow. This includes:
- Regular gritting: Apply salt, grit, or sand to outdoor surfaces regularly, especially during and after snowfall, to reduce the risk of slipping.
- Clearing snow: Promptly remove snow from walkways, entrances, and areas where employees frequently walk.
- Signs and warnings: Use warning signs to alert employees of potentially slippery areas. Place these signs where ice or snow may accumulate or where the ground might be particularly wet.
2. Indoor safety:
While outdoor conditions are a major concern, indoor hazards are just as important, particularly when people bring snow, water, and mud inside. Here’s how you can mitigate risks indoors:
- Use rugs/mats: Place absorbent mats at all entrances to capture water, snow, and mud, preventing these from spreading throughout the building.
- Clean wet floors quickly: Any wet surfaces should be cleaned up promptly. Provide employees with warning signs for wet floors, particularly in areas like bathrooms, hallways, and break rooms.
- Ensure reliable lighting: Dark, poorly lit areas can contribute to falls. Ensure all areas, particularly stairways and hallways, are well-lit to help employees navigate safely in poor weather conditions.
3. Dress appropriately for cold weather
Employees should be reminded to wear proper winter attire, especially if they are required to work outdoors. Cold, wet clothing or inappropriate footwear can increase the risk of slips and falls.
- Appropriate footwear: Encourage employees to wear shoes with non-slip soles and insulated boots if they need to work outside in icy conditions. This helps prevent slips when walking on snow or ice.
- Layering: Employees should be dressed in layers to ensure warmth and comfort while working outdoors. Cold, numb hands or feet can lead to accidents or loss of balance.
4. Check Workplace Equipment and Heating
Cold temperatures can cause additional safety risks, such as malfunctioning heating systems or machinery that isn’t properly maintained for the season.
- Maintain Heating Systems: Ensure your heating systems are in good working order to prevent issues like frozen pipes or inadequate warmth in the workplace.
- Regular Equipment Checks: Cold weather can affect the performance of machinery, so ensure all equipment is checked and maintained to avoid breakdowns and other safety issues.
5. Encourage reporting of hazards
Encourage a culture where employees feel comfortable reporting hazards, whether they are indoors or outdoors. A proactive approach to identifying risks allows businesses to take immediate action and prevent accidents before they happen.
Conclusion
By implementing these winter workplace safety measures, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of slips, trips, and falls. Regularly inspecting the workplace, maintaining outdoor walkways, and promoting safe behaviour are essential to keeping employees safe during the colder months.
Our IOSH Managing Safely Course is designed to equip managers and supervisors with the essential skills and knowledge to create a safe and healthy workplace. This includes risk assessments, accident investigation and emergency preparedness.
At 1st Choice, we offer a range of safety training courses, to help your staff stay safe and healthy all year round. Get in contact with our friendly team for more information.
