Reducing slip hazards in Winter: Essential tips for safety
12/02/2024
During the winter periods of 2017/18 through to 2019/20, an estimated 971,000 working days were lost to slip, trip and fall injuries in the UK, according to Health and Safety Executive statistics.
Hazards such as wet an icy roads, pathways and verges can cause accidents if not properly maintained. Slips, trips and falls are some of the most common causes of injury at work in the UK and globally, accounting for on average 40% of all reported major injuries in UK workplaces alone.
In this article, we’ve put together a few tips to think about when managing access to and from your property or activities.
Improve Lighting
With limited daylight hours, it’s important that you have good lighting to increase visibility. This applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces and is a simple fix that can significantly reduce risk. LED bulbs, with their longer life span, energy efficiency and brighter light are a fantastic choice for outdoor lighting. During snowfall, LED bulbs improve visibility by lighting through snowflakes and reducing glare. They’re also highly robust and designed to stand extreme weather conditions.
Manage Rain Water
Whether it's a light shower or a torrential downpour, rain poses a variety of risks to both pedestrians and drivers. Rainwater significantly increases the likelihood of accidents, which makes it essential that necessary precautions are taken.
Here are some steps you can take to reduce these risks:
- Watch out for rainwater mixed with frozen leaves. This slushy combination can create a very slippery surface, increasing the risk of slips and falls. Regularly clear leaves from pathways and doorways to prevent this happening.
- Shelter main entrances with canopies. This helps keep rain water from pooling outside of building entrances and being brought indoors.
- Place floor mats at entrances. This will help prevent water from being brought inside, which can create slippery indoor surfaces. Make sure to check the mats on a regular basis as these can become a trip hazard if dislodged or misplaced.
- Stop shortcuts over grassy areas. Grass can get muddy and slippery when wet, stopping the use of shortcuts with cones or hazard signs will reduce the risk of someone slipping. If this is unavoidable, consider using non-slip outdoor mats.
- Regularly maintain drains and gutters. Clearing out drains and gutters will help them work properly and avoid overflow or flooding.
Prepare for Ice & Snow
Reduce the risk of trips and slips in icy conditions by preparing before the weather turns:
- Stay on top of local weather forecasts. Regularly checking updates will keep you informed about any future low temperatures or icy conditions.
- Identify areas that are more likely to become icy. These could be pathways, entrance steps, or other often used areas. Complete a thorough risk assessment to understand where the danger points are. This step is crucial as it helps you pinpoint the spots that need the most attention.
- Think about setting up diversions to keep pedestrians away from high-risk areas. Use clear signs or barriers to guide people through safer routes. This will help reduce the risk of accidents and keep everyone on a safer path.
- Never use hot water to melt ice. It might seem like a quick solution, but it can actually make things worse. Hot water will refreeze and create an even more slippery surface, increasing the hazard. Instead use salt or grit.
By following these steps, you’re taking proactive ways to reduce accidents. Planning and effective communication can make a significant difference in everyone's safety during icy weather.
Implement Gritting
Salting roads and paths is a great way to reduce the build up of snow and ice. Being proactive by laying salt before frost settles in the evening, or salting high traffic/pedestrian areas before peak time may reduce the number of accidents on your property.
If gritting is a regular practice as part of your winter risk management, it’s important to think about what happens if this gets interrupted.
If the designated person is unable to carry out their work through sickness or absence, you may want to consider having a back up plan in place to implement the necessary precautions.
This is particularly important as, if you have taken responsibility for salting the roads or pathways but, for whatever reason, skip a day and an accident occurs, you may be seen as liable, even if you have no legal responsibility. Maintenance and Inspections Regular inspections and maintenance should form part of the winter risk management plan in order to identify and address potential hazards promptly. Create a maintenance schedule and checklist to ensure all areas are regularly checked.
It’s important to document all the safety measures, maintenance and checks your organisation carries out. Keeping detailed records of these activities will help defend your cause if any incidents that take place.
In short, preparation is key. When reviewing your plans for the winter months be sure to assess your lighting and management of rain water, snow and ice so that access to and from your properties is safe and free from slip hazards. Keep an eye on the forecast and adjust your daily tasks accordingly.
