Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Slip and Fall Preparedness

Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

With winter fast approaching, it’s important that employees are prepared to handle potential hazards caused by the change in weather. Slip and fall prevention is essential for any businesses operating in areas where employees will encounter rain, ice, and snow during the workday.

Wet or icy surfaces and snow build-up can increase the likelihood of slip and fall accidents. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to spot ice that has formed on walkways, stairs and building entrances. Workers may unknowingly step on dangerously slick spots, and snow build-up on pathways can obscure tripping hazards like curbs or cracks in the sidewalk.

One way to raise employee awareness all winter long is through a safety campaign. Regular safety reminders and updates can help keep slip and fall prevention on an employee’s radar, until temperatures warm up again.

Employers can communicate potential hazards to their team through physical signage, email alerts, and proper safety training. Signage can be posted in employee common areas, as well as in places where snow or ice may accumulate, alerting workers to the potential hazards around them. Safety trainings should be assigned to team members who will be working in these winter conditions. Regular email reminders should also be sent to team members to caution against dangerous behaviors.

There are a number of safety tips that employers can provide to their staff members either in a training or through email reminders. Here are a few examples:

Proper Footwear: Boots with enough tread or ice cleats should be worn when working outside in winter conditions.

Walk Carefully: Adjust your gate when walking on a slippery area. Take slow, small steps and pay attention to the ground in front of you.

Precipitation: Stay informed about current weather expectations. Be aware of the potential for rain or snow before heading to work each day.

Choose a Safe Route: Follow marked routes to building entrances. Obey signage and don’t take short cuts because they could be dangerous.

Keep Your Hands Free: Make sure your hands and arms are free to help keep you stable while walking. Use bags or backpacks to free up your arms and avoid carrying heavy loads long distances.

Know How to Fall: Knowing how to brace yourself after a fall can reduce the risk of injury. Stay informed on how to protect your body in case things go wrong.

Employers should always make sure their staff are educated about the specific risks of winter weather. Proper training should be provided on adequate footwear, how to walk safely on icy surfaces, and how to lessen or avoid injury if a fall does occur.

Preventing slips and falls requires a proactive approach from both employers and employees. Building awareness in the workplace can reduce the risk of serious injuries and foster a culture of safety in the workplace.

Rancho Mesa has a variety of toolbox talks available through the SafetyOne™ platform that can be utilized in order to prepare them for winter-related hazards. If you have questions about the available safety trainings, contact your Client Technology Coordinator.

Preparing Your Company for Winter Weather

Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Winter is on its way, and companies are preparing for the colder months still ahead. Lower temperatures, heavy rain, and illnesses caused by the cold can all take away from the safety and efficiency of a business or job site.

Cold-weather related incidents are preventable if the proper steps are taken to ensure employee safety. That’s why it is important for employers to take necessary precautions, and prepare their employees for the seasonal changes.

To prepare for the winter weather, supervisors should be sure their workers are wearing the proper clothing in order to reduce body-heat loss, and are staying dry as much as possible; wet clothing can chill the body rapidly. It’s also important not to ignore shivering. Even if an employee says they are fine, persistent shivering is a sign it’s time to return indoors.

In addition to the cold weather, heavy rains, dense fog and substantial snowfall can decrease visibility on the job site, and on the road, which increases the likelihood of accidents with equipment or vehicles. If it is raining, the best thing to do is stay off of the roads. If avoiding the roads is not an option, be sure vehicles are equipped with properly inflated tires that are not bald or badly worn. This will improve traction and reduce the likelihood of losing control of the vehicle.

These are just some of the ways companies can mitigate weather-related incidents. If an accident does occur, SafetyOne™ users can complete an incident report mobile form. A tutorial on how to complete a mobile form can be found on the Rancho Mesa website. To help prevent accidents caused by a mechanical failure, SafetyOne users can file an inspection report for vehicles in need of service using the “Motor Vehicle” observation. A tutorial on how to complete an observation report can be found on the Rancho Mesa website.

Rancho Mesa also has a number of toolbox talks available for cold weather, including safety tips when using an industrial space heater and weather awareness for landscape contractors and tree care companies. To enable access to these weather-specific toolbox talks via the mobile app, Rancho Mesa recommends the SafetyOne administrator create a Winter Weather toolbox talk group specifically for these toolbox talks and assign the group to the desired projects or crews. This will make the winter weather-specific toolbox talks available to users in the mobile app.

Rancho Mesa recommends the following toolbox talks through SafetyOne:

• Cold Weather

• Driving in Wet Conditions

• Effects of Weather

• Hypothermia

• LP Gas Salamander Heaters

• Snow Removal

• Temporary Heat Safety

• Weather Awareness for Landscape Contractors

• Weather Awareness for Tree Care Companies

To learn more about preparing for the winter weather or how to enable toolbox talks in SafetyOne, reach out to your client technology coordinator.