As winter approaches, supervisors and managers responsible for safety should increase awareness of additional hazards. This season presents increased risks such as slips and trips caused by reduced daylight, wet and slippery surfaces from fallen leaves that conceal hazards, and icy and snowy conditions that make walking and driving more hazardous.
What to do?
LIGHTING: Ensure adequate lighting in and around work areas to prevent hazards. Walk all main internal and external routes used during normal work or emergencies, inside and outside, preferably during dawn or dusk when lighting varies. Remember, with the night’s drawing in, people may use different lights than in warmer months, so check they ALL work.
If there are fixed ground hazards, especially steps or stairs, improve the lighting or highlight the hazard (i.e., new light fittings, a brighter bulb, or even highlighting the “nosing” (front edge) of the step/stair with luminous paint/strips).
Ensure all emergency lights are functional. If not on the annual checklist, have a qualified electrician inspect them. Record and test monthly to maintain compliance. During winter, emergency/escape lighting can be instrumental in saving lives that would not be at risk during summer months.
WET / DECAYING LEAVES: Deciduous trees shed leaves that pose slip and trip hazards by creating slippery surfaces and hiding obstacles. It is important that site managers include procedures to regularly clear leaves or consider removing deciduous trees if responsible for landscaping, to regulate slip/trip hazards.
RAINWATER: If there are external paved areas on the site, using slip-resistant materials would be advisable. When installing a walkway or performing maintenance on existing walkways, it is recommended to consider the use of slip-resistant materials to enhance safety. Also:
- Discourage shortcuts over wet, slippery, grassy areas or turn them into proper paths.
- For new sites, plan paths based on expected foot traffic to save long-term costs.
- Install large canopies at entrances to prevent rainwater from tracking inside; if not feasible, use absorbent mats or non-slip flooring.
ICE, FROST AND SNOW: To reduce the risk of slipping whilst at work, conduct a risk assessment for on-foot dangers and implement precautions.
- Identify outdoor areas used by pedestrians that are most likely to be affected by ice.
- Monitor the temperature, remembering that prevention is key.
- Take action whenever freezing temperatures are forecast. Keep up to date by visiting a weather service – the Met Office.
- Consider using “smart signs”, which display warnings at 10°C and below.
- Put procedures in place to prevent icy surfaces from forming/keep pedestrians off slippery surfaces, by using grit, covering walkways or diverting pedestrians.
- If warning cones are used, remember to remove them once the hazard has passed.
GRITTING – Gritting, the most common de-icing method, is inexpensive, quick, and easy to apply. Used primarily by local authorities, it prevents ice formation and helps melt existing ice or snow. It is especially effective when applied early.
Gritting should be done when frost, ice, or snow is forecast, or when walkways are damp and temperatures are at or below freezing, preferably in the evening or early morning before employees arrive. Salt requires time to dissolve; it is not instant.
Heavy rain can wash away grit, reducing effectiveness if snow then falls. Compact snow, which turns into ice and “dawn frost” (early morning dew that freezes) is harder to treat and is unpredictable.
Drivers
Employees who drive as part of their duties face increased risk during adverse weather conditions (rain, snow, frost, standing water, cold, ice, fog) and extended darkness.
Reminding your team of these safety tips helps all drivers, whether on company business or commuting, stay safer in these conditions:
- Conduct a thorough pre-use inspection of the vehicle. Ensure fluid levels, tyre pressures and tread depths are suitable for the conditions. Verify all lights are working, all windows are clear, and both sets of number plates are legible;
- Make sure the vehicle has enough fuel. Allow for extra time to complete the journey so speeds can be reduced if needed.
- Increase the distance to the vehicle in front. In ice and/or snow, stopping distances should be considered to be 10x longer;
- Remember, snow is visible, but ice, especially black ice, is often not.
- When driving in reduced visibility, such as rain or fog, use dipped headlights to the front and switch on rear fog lights, using windscreen wipers to keep windscreens clear. Remember to turn fog lights off when they are not needed. They can be a distraction to other drivers in normal visibility, and it is the law.
- Avoid sudden braking, harsh acceleration or sharply applied steering manoeuvres;
- Carry items for emergencies: a torch, a spade, extra warm clothing, Wellington boots, a blanket, a snack and a hot drink, especially if driving through isolated areas;
- If planning a long journey, advise someone of the destination and approximate expected arrival time.
- Carry a mobile phone, ensuring it is fully charged;
- If feeling unsafe or uncomfortable driving in bad weather, consider postponing the trip or using alternative transportation.
- If stranded by bad weather, ensure the vehicle is not blocking access for emergency services. Remain with the vehicle unless there is shelter nearby. Maintain circulation by moving the body, using the engine to keep warm if possible and providing the exhaust is venting safely. If snowed over, ensure that an airway is maintained.
Final Note
Keep all risk assessments up to date, with precautions and procedures understood and followed. This would be a good time to review and update them, ensuring workers use the latest assessments and safe work systems to stay safe.