WInter in the Work Place

1/6/2022 (Permalink)

It’s beginning to get brisk and blustery outside! Time to bust out the winter boots and warm beverages. Whether this season’s weather brings massive snowstorms or just the occasional cold snap—if you own a small business, it’s definitely time to winterize your workplace.

Winterizing your workplace is the best way to prevent injuries like slips, trips, and falls. To promote workplace safety during winter, you can take steps to reduce slippery surfaces, train your workers on winter driving, minimize cold exposure, and have a communications plan. To improve morale during the season, bring in some warm apple cider, call a meeting, and ask your team to help design the ideal winter safety plan for your business.

Winter workplace injuries

Each winter, there is a significant spike in work-related injuries. There were 42,480 workplace injuries and illnesses involving ice, sleet, or snow in just one year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That number includes only those events that caused employees to miss at least one day of work and that were reported to the bureau. This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) predict a wetted winter with colder than average temperatures in some regions. That’s an ice-cold recipe for weather-related injuries at work.

Implement a winter safety plan

If you operate a business, you know how essential it is to promote safety among your employees. Depending on the size of your workforce and your industry, you may be required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or by your state regulators to have a safety plan in place. However, even if you are not required to show proof of your safety plan you should still have one. As a business owner, not only does practicing workplace safety protect the members of your team, it also protects your bottom line.

When you put together your workplace winter safety plan, don’t forget to consider the additional risks caused by rain, sleet, and snow. Set aside some work time and call a meeting so that all of your employees can help establish, reevaluate, or familiarize themselves with your safety plan.

Get buy-in from your employees

OSHA, the U.S. entity that protects and regulates workplace safety, recommends enlisting the help of your employees when you create a plan. Having your team member’s help is key because they:

• Know the most about the hazards of their own jobs
• Have the most to gain or lose based on your safety program
• Can help create, implement, evaluate, and improve the program
• May gain a sense of ownership and buy-in with the program

Winter workplace safety tips to get you started

To effectively winterize your workplace, you should gather your employees and ask them to consider all aspects of their workday. Work together to brainstorm potential winter hazards they may experience while at work and on the way to and from the workplace. Write out all their ideas. Next, group the hazards into categories so that you can create a winter safety plan that is catered specifically to your business. Do not forget to consider the different environments your employees work in, such as the office, warehouse, vehicles, roads, or field.

Address slippery areas

• De-ice parking lots, sidewalks, entryways, and outdoor break areas
• Reroute people using caution signs, rope, cones, or tape
• Put mats down over slippery spots
• Mop up any standing water, especially on tile or marble
• Set aside a place for wet umbrellas, raincoats, and shoes

Set up a communications plan

• Monitor severe weather announcements
• Set up a call tree or send a group text message and email blast with weather updates
• Consider canceling work, adjusting hours, or asking employees to work remotely
• Ensure you have a way to connect with workers in the field if severe weather arrives

Promote winter driving safety

• Train employees who operate work vehicles on best practices for winter driving
• Supply work vehicles with ice scrapers, tire chains, emergency kits, and shovels
• When possible, cancel tasks that require driving until bad weather clears

Minimize cold exposure

• Have outdoor workers take breaks and work shorter shifts
• Rotate employees to reduce individual time in the cold
• Set up outdoor heaters
• Save routine, non-essential tasks for warmer months

Provide education about cold stress

• Teach workers that cold stress keeps the body from being able to regulate temperature
• Discuss how cold stress can lead to hypothermia, frostbite, and trench foot
• Advise that people with diabetes, hypothyroidism, or hypertension are more vulnerable to risk
• Request that employees dress in loose-fitting layers of clothing
• Ask employees to stretch and warm-up before working in the cold

Practice office safety

• Ensure that space heaters are used properly and kept away from flammable materials
• Unplug all space heaters when not in use
• Decorate for holidays wisely—don’t use candles or hang decor on fire sprinklers
• Use caution with ladders and extension cords when decorating

Winterize your building

• Set faucets to drip to avoid frozen pipes
• Inspect and repair indoor and outdoor insulation
• Have your HVAC system checked and maintained 

With some deliberate planning and participation from your whole team, you can successfully winterize your workplace for safety. Use the opportunity to boost morale and refocus as you face the colder weather months.

As always, if disaster strikes, SERVPRO of Rock County is always here for you. We can be reached 24/7 at 608.754.7202