Winter Safety Season Begins

As temperatures turn colder, it is time to focus on winter safety. The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts colder than normal temperatures with freezing the first week of December, and plenty of snow before the Christmas holiday!

Wintery slip and falls are a major cause of work related accidents every year, yet these are controllable. Employees cleaning parking lots, sidewalks, and other common areas, are at greater risk for serious injuries as they are often the first person out in the snow and ice. Employees walking to and from work in the parking areas are at risk, and should take precautions to acclimate their shoes when getting out of a warm car, by sitting with their feet in the snow and shuffling their shoes to get temperatures down. Otherwise you have warm shoes on ice cold snow, and it creates water on ice which is extremely slick.

We recommend Employers provide outside employees with these slip over the shoe or boot traction devices, called Yaktrax. These provide 360 degrees of traction, and are effective in reducing slip and fall accidents. At $16.00 a pair with free shipping, they are much cheaper than a Work Comp claim ! These can be purchased from Make Life Easier catalog - http://www.make-life-easier.com/product/travel+%26+auto/travel/yaktraxbootandshoetractiondevices.do?search=basic&keyword=Yak+Trax&sortby=newArrivals&page=1

Prepare now to keep your employees safe for the winter. And while your at it, buy one for you too!

Additional Tips to Avoid Winter Slip-ups

Winter months present additional hazards that are typically not factors for employees during warmer weather – specifically, slip and fall concerns. With snow and ice covered conditions, you run the risk of taking major falls, which can lead to serious injuries.

Prevention

Education is essential in preventing winter weather-related injuries. Consider the following recommendations to prevent slip and fall injuries during the winter months:

• Wear the proper footwear that provides traction on snow and ice. Footwear should be made of anti-slip material; avoid plastic and leather-soled shoes or boots.
• Exercise caution when entering and exiting vehicles, and use the vehicle for balance and support.
• Try to walk only in designated areas that are safe for foot traffic. If you notice that a walkway is covered in ice, walk on the grass next to the sidewalk, which will have more traction.
• Avoid inclines that are typically difficult to walk up or down as they may be more treacherous in winter conditions.
• Take small steps to maintain your center of balance, walk slowly and never run. When possible, walk with your hands free to maintain your balance. And despite the cold temperatures, avoid putting your hands in your pockets. This will help you better maintain your balance and allow you to break a fall should you slip.
• Use handrails, walls or anything stationary to assist in steadying your feet.
• Look ahead to the path in front of you to avoid hazards.
• Test a potentially slippery area before stepping on it by tapping your foot on the surface first.
• Remove debris, water and ice from all working walkways.
• Steer clear of roof edges, floor openings and other drop-offs to avoid slipping hazards.
• Sand or salt surfaces covered by ice or snow to provide traction.
• Dry your shoes or boots on floor mats when entering a building.
• Report trip and fall hazards immediately to your supervisor.
• Seek shelter immediately in the event of severe weather conditions.

If You Begin to Slip...

• Twist your body and roll backward to avoid falling forward and injuring your face.
• Try to relax your body when you start to feel your legs give way.
• If you are carrying a load, throw it off to the side so it does not land on you when you fall. This will also free your arms to help break your fall.

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