Five winter health and safety considerations

Take steps to reduce hazards

Winter brings unwelcome blasts of ice and snow and with that comes plenty of hazards to watch out for. Slips and falls increase during late autumn and into winter partly because daylight is reduced. Leaves congregate on pathways, resulting in wet, often slippery conditions. In severe weather, ice and snow will build up on footpaths. Regardless of whether your business is situated on a small or expansive site, it’s essential that action is taken to reduce danger.

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Company owners must ensure the lighting is adequate throughout the workplace, internal and external. To ascertain if the lighting is strong enough, you could ask the employees or shadow them on a walk around. Bulbs can easily be replaced with stronger lighting.

As innocuous as they are, wet leaves create a hazard and companies should have a procedure in place for clearing walkways regularly. If one tree or bush is particularly prone to shedding foliage, it might be a good idea to remove it.

Given that heavy rainfall can be prevalent, it’s important that any paved areas should be slip resistant when wet. Workers should also be directed not to walk on grass which can be slippery. Placing the paved area in the correct place initially when constructing the buildings is also key. Many accidents occur at entrances to sites, so fitting an appropriate sized canopy can prevent any unnecessary falls. An alternative is a large absorbent mat for the reception area.

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According to https://www.simplybusiness.co.uk/knowledge/articles/2018/11/what-to-do-if-a-storm-hits-your-business-premises/ snow and ice can be hazardous for both staff and customers. Gritting car parks with salt before anticipated snowfall is effective.

Reducing risk of accidents is key

To reduce the risk of accidents on icy or frosty surfaces or areas affected by heavy snow, there are steps you can take. Firstly, identify the areas used most by pedestrians. These could be walkways, or car parks. Companies such as Gloucestershire car park gritting can provide comprehensive service to firms requiring additional support. A full range of services is offered at www.contract-gritting.co.uk and you can be assured that any risks will be greatly reduced.

The most common method is gritting as it is cheap and easy to carry out. Gritting should be in place when adverse weather is expected. The ideal times are in the morning before employees arrive, and in the evening.