Winter safety tips for businesses

As we head into the autumn and with colder weather approaching now is the time to ensure your business is prepared for the probability of bad weather at some point during the winter.

Slips, trips and falls in the UK account for over a third of all reported major injuries, cost business over £512 million and the health service over £133 million and 95% of ‘major’ slips result in broken bones (source HSE).   Last year’s weather was rumoured estimated to be costing businesses in the UK around £260 million a day.

Most slips, trips and falls occur in wet or contaminated conditions, needless to say the risk increases significantly at this time of year.

Main causes of slips, trips and falls in winter

There are three areas in particular to watch out for in winter:

• Damp and wet conditions – paths and roads can become slippery in winter due to damp conditions, such as rain or dew, especially if the path surface is smooth or if there is moss or algae present.
• Fallen leaves – these can be a hazard if they become wet and slippery, or if they disguise an underlying unevenness, such as a kerb.
• Frost, ice and snow – as temperatures drop towards freezing and below the combination of cold and damp creates the conditions for a range of slippery conditions.

Business and employer responsibilities

Under health and safety legislation employers have a legal duty to ensure the safety of people in the workplace. This includes not only identifying hazards but putting in place measures to reduce them to the lowest level so far as is reasonably practicable.

In our experience many organisations fail to adequately assess these risks, leaving themselves facing significant interruption to daily business activities not to mention the likelihood of prosecution, civil claims and increased insurance premiums following an incident.

Tips for keeping businesses and staff safe this winter:

Here are some suggestions to work though before the weather deteriorates:

• Undertake a winter risk assessment of your business premises/activities.  Identify who might be affected and how. Don’t forget to include members of the public, visitors, suppliers and other people who you have contact with.
• Be proactive and plan maintenance activities to ensure water drains freely away, clear guttering, check downpipes and ensure all drains are working before the colder weather arrives
• If you are responsible for gritting ensure adequate supplies of rock salt/grit before colder weather sets then monitor weather reports to ensure the right action is taken at the right time
• When it is wet, place absorbent matting of sufficient size, in entrances (ideally you should be able to take three steps on a matt when entering a building).  Change matting regularly as necessary and place warning signs where appropriate (you need to do more than just place signs)
• Communicate – tell your staff what you are doing and ask for their support in managing hazards in the workplace, ask them to be proactive in clearing up wet patches, warning others and keeping a general eye on the workplace
• Ensure vehicles you rely on won’t let you down – check wiper blades, tyre pressures/tread depth (3mm is recommended for winter motoring) and batteries.  Ensure you’ve adequate screen wash and antifreeze and regularly clean your headlamps/windscreen
• When snow falls and driving conditions are difficult how do your staff get to work?  Are there alternative working arrangements? Could they work from home (talk to your IT provider now), attend another business site, walk in or perhaps be collected in an appropriate vehicle?

If you are unsure of your responsibilities, need advice on specific risk situations or would like the peace of mind of an independent risk assessment then give us a call us at Acorn.