Winter Safety: Preventing Slips and Falls

It’s that time of year again, and the cold, strange, weather patterns are affecting much of the country. Keeping your business and employees well-equipped to handle potentially dangerous conditions is key to any strong safety program. Slips and falls continue to be a loss leader within any Workers Compensation program.

Stay proactive and deal with potential hazards in a timely fashion. Recognize these hazardous conditions and take proper precautions.

Here are some helpful tips:

• Do not allow plowed snow to remain in a parking lane after most snow has melted. Slips and falls can occur as people enter and leave their vehicles.
• Be sure to remove re-melted snow and ice after the application of winter salt.
• Adequately sand or salt walkways. The appearance of a clear path may cause people to proceed with less caution.
• Remove snow that may have been plowed into a parking space during emergency snow removal.
• Remove excess snow around curbs. Accumulation of snow in a parking area next to a curb has the potential for creating serious injuries.
• Do not allow ice to accumulate in parking lots. Deal with snow and ice immediately.
• Mop all entrances and exits regularly to prevent water accumulation.
• Make sure that handrails on stairways and walkways are secure. If someone fell and grabbed the rail, it would be exceptionally dangerous if the railing was not secure.
• Point out the obvious. Post signs of caution in areas that are hazardous.

Share these helpful winter tips with your employees:

• Require employees to wear anti-slip footwear (meaning no leather- or plastic-soled shoes). High heels should not be worn outdoors during winter weather. When walking across ice or snow, be sure to take short, flat steps.
• Walk. Don’t run. Slowing down will decrease the chances of a slip and fall.
• When entering a building, remember to shake your umbrella outside and clean your footwear thoroughly on the floor mats or carpet.
• Once inside a building, don’t walk too fast and avoid making sharp changes in directions.

Read more safety tips from NARFA and help your team be smart about accident prevention. NARFA work hard to instill a strong safety culture in your organizations, and is a sponsor of the Automotive Industries Compensation Corporation (AICC), a nationally recognized Workers Compensation program with huge discounts, unlimited loss control, and dividends paid back to members each year.

Contact us to learn more about how our best in class employee benefit programs can help you and your business stay strong at all times. Since 1929, we have provided support for hundreds of member businesses. Join us today.