Slip and trip accidents increase during the cold weather seasons for a number of reasons, there is less daylight, leaves fall onto paths and become wet and slippery and cold weather causes ice and snow to build up on travel and work surfaces. There are effective actions that can be taken to reduce accidents regardless of the size of your job site:
Lighting – Make sure there ids adequate lighting for workers and pedestrians in and around your workplace. It is important that you are able to see to avoid hazards that may be on the ground or on work surfaces. Check lighting regularly and adjust to the needs and changes in the time of day or season.
Wet, decaying leaves and debris –Fallen leaves that become wet or have started to decay can create slip risks in two ways, they hide hazards that may be on the path or they themselves create risk of slipping. Put in place procedures from removing leaves and debris on site at regular intervals.
Rain water – Rain water is a hazard as is the ice that if forms when the temperature drops.
- Be sure that wet external surfaces are slip resistant or appropriately treated to prevent slips.
- Discourage workers from using shortcuts on grass or dirt which are likely to become slippery when wet.
- Convert existing shortcuts into properly prepared paths or discontinue their use.
- Before installing temporary access, plan how pedestrians and workers will likely move around the site.
- Many slip and fall accidents occur as people enter buildings walking through rainwater. Consider canopies over building entrances to prevent this. Used absorbent mats inside entrance on flooring which are non-slip.
Ice, Frost and Snow
- Reduce the risk of slips on ice, frost and snow, by monitoring the risk and establish procedures to manage the danger areas.
- Identify the areas used by workers and pedestrians that are most likely to be affected by ice including building entrances, parking lots, walkways, shortcuts, sloped areas and areas constantly in the shade.
- Monitor temperature, inside and out and modify safety procedures accordingly and in a timely manner.
- Keep up to date by visiting an online weather service and take action accordingly.
- Install warning signs in areas prone to dangerous conditions.
- Maintain areas to prevent icy surfaces from forming and/or keep workers/ pedestrians off these areas.
- Use grit, salt and or similar treatments on areas prone to be slippery.
- Covered walkways can be constructed for workers or pedestrians to walk through.
- Use warning cones but remove them once the hazard has passed or they could eventually be ignored.
- The most common method used to de-ice floors is gritting as it is relatively cheap, quick to apply and easy to spread. Rock salt or ice met is the most commonly used ‘grit’.
- Salt can stop ice from forming and cause existing ice or snow to melt. Salt doesn’t work instantly; it needs sufficient time to dissolve into the moisture on the surface.
- Compacted snow which turns to ice is difficult to treat effectively with grit.
- Be aware that ‘dawn frost’ can occur on dry surfaces, when early morning dew forms and freezes on impact with the cold surface. It can be difficult to predict when or where this condition will occur.
STAY SAFE – ALWAYS ENSURE THAT WORK AREAS AND WALKWAYS
ARE PROPERLY MAINTAINED IN COLD or WET WEATHER!