Winter Hazards in the Workplace: Identify and Mitigate Risks

Conducting a Winter Risk Assessment

As we approach the winter season, it is crucial to identify winter hazards in the workplace. Winter hazards can present themselves to all workers regardless of the type of workplace. To create a winter safety plan for your workplace, start with a risk assessment. Seek input from employees, supervisors, the Joint Health and Safety Committee, or a health and safety representative if you have one.

Reviewing previous winter-related hazards is another good place to start. Once hazards are identified, consider how severe an injury from a winter hazard could be. Could it be a minor, major, permanent injury, or a fatality? What is the exposure to winter hazards? Is it frequent or infrequent exposure? Next, consider the probability of occurrence. Is it likely to occur or unlikely? Severity, exposure, and probability will lead you to the risk evaluation for winter hazards at your workplace. Once you have determined the risk, you are ready to develop your comprehensive winter safety plan.

Common Winter Hazards in the Workplace

To prepare for winter hazards, you need to know what to look out for. Below, we will highlight three common winter hazards your workplace could experience:

Cold stress: Exposure to cold conditions can occur during outdoor or seasonal work. Indoor exposure to cold stress can occur in refrigerated or cold storage areas. When exposed to cold stress, workers’ health, safety, and productivity can be affected. In certain cases, it can also be life-threatening. To prevent cold stress, we recommend the following:

• Provide heated warming shelters such as tents, cabins, or restrooms. This is especially important if your workers are continuously outdoors.
• Ensure proper rest periods in a warm area.
• Dry clothes, including socks and boots, should be available for workers to change into.

Slippery/Icy surfaces: Slippery surfaces caused by snow and ice increase the likelihood of slips, trips, and falls. To mitigate these hazards from occurring, your workplace can:

• Ensure walkways and high-traffic areas are free of ice and snow. Regularly plowing snow and incorporating heated walkways can keep walkways ice and snow-free.
• Implement traction control methods, such as sand and salt, on icy surfaces.
• Use signage to alert employees of hazards.
• Mandate the use of proper footwear. The soles of the footwear should provide enough traction to allow for safe movement.

Winter driving: Winter driving poses a significant hazard to road safety due to snow, ice, freezing rain, and reduced visibility. If your employees’ jobs require them to be on the road, you can take steps to mitigate the risk, such as:

• Ensure all work vehicles have winter tires to have the best possible traction. Additionally, workplaces in Northern Ontario can invest in chains on tires.
• Keep an emergency kit in company vehicles at all times. Ensure the emergency kit has first aid items, jumper cables, flashlights, batteries, portable chargers, blankets, ice scrapers, and winter apparel.

Best Practices for Driving Safely in Winter

Driving in the winter requires special care. Below, Sandy Mayers Ibbitson, our Health and Safety Specialist and licensed driving instructor of 20 years, outlines best driving practices:

• It’s crucial to emphasize that all drivers need to completely clear their vehicle of ice and snow before pulling out of their driveway or away from the workplace. Ensuring clear visibility is fundamental for safety, as both the ability to see and be seen are key factors in preventing incidents and ensuring the safety of everyone on the road.
• In winter conditions, it’s essential to adhere to the speed limit. Drive slower, stay alert, and be mindful of other drivers on the road. Practicing courtesy, such as allowing others to merge into traffic, contributes to a safer journey for everyone. Let’s help ensure that everyone reaches their destination safely, especially during challenging weather conditions.
• It’s important to know and understand the type of brakes your car has and how to use them effectively, especially in emergency situations.
  • If your car has threshold braking, you must pump the brakes quickly to maintain control. Slamming on these brakes could lock your wheels, potentially causing you to lose control and steer in an unsafe direction.
  • If your car is equipped with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), apply firm pressure to the brake pedal. The system will automatically pump the brakes up to 18 times per second, much faster than human capability, allowing you to maintain steering control.

Understanding your car’s braking system can make all the difference in avoiding a collision and staying safe on the road.

Speaking of winter driving, it’s essential to ask: Do you train your workers to recognize and respond to winter driving hazards? As an experienced Ontario driving instructor, Sandy understands the unique risks drivers face in winter conditions. HSPI can offer winter driving assessments and tailored training to equip your team with the skills and knowledge they need to drive safely, even in challenging conditions. Proactively preparing your employees for winter driving not only promotes safety but also ensures your organization is doing its part to reduce risk on the road.

Creating a Winter Safety Plan for Your Workplace

A comprehensive winter safety plan is key to maintaining employee safety during the cold months. Workplace winter safety plans can include the following:

Hazard Prevention: Take the identifying hazards in the assessment and outline how they will be prevented or mitigated. For example, if icy entrance paths were identified, the plan should include regular salting of all entranceways and signage.

Safety protocols: Establish clear guidelines on all hazardous items or activities. For example, develop protocols for safe winter driving, winter apparel, and footwear.

Communications plan: Develop how the plan will be communicated to all employees.

By preventative action, workplaces can minimize the risks associated with winter hazards to better ensure a secure and healthy work environment. If your workplace requires assistance in preparing for winter hazards, please reach out at info@hspinc.ca. Let’s work together to create a safe and resilient workplace.