As daylight gets shorter and warmer days become less and less frequent, we are reminded that winter is right around the corner. If you haven’t thought about winter safety protocols, you could find yourself on a slippery slope. Did you know that ice is a leading cause of slip-and-fall accidents in winter? Slip-and-fall accidents make up around 25% of annual workers' compensation claims – across all industries - from offices to construction sites!
Parking lots, sidewalks, and outdoor stairways are particularly hazardous and often don't reveal their icy conditions until AFTER an employee slips and falls. Things to think about now are:
Who is responsible for clearing ice & snow from your property or parking lot?
What happens if employees arrive before their scheduled cleaning or work overnights?
What is the procedure if snow & ice develops throughout the workday, is there salt or ice melt available onsite?
Who oversees spreading salt or ice melt at entrances/exits & other walkways?
Both in terms of real money and lost productivity, it’s important to stay on top of ice safety. One suggestion to prevent slips and falls on ice are Ice Cleats. Ice Cleats easily slip on and over the top of most shoes or boots without having to remove the shoe. In a busy work environment, their ease-of use removes objections to wearing them. Steel studs on the cleats help to grip ice and add traction preventing slips & falls for a fraction of the cost of a workers' compensation injury (as low as $10-15 a pair). With a small investment in training & planning, nearly all workplace injuries are preventable.
Let your employees know how serious you are about safety, and let’s keep the conversation going year round. Interested in learning more? Reach out to the SynchronyHR Risk Management team today!
*This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal counsel advice. For further information, please consult a risk management professional.
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