Preparing Your Workplace for Winter: Height Safety Checklist
The workplace can be a very dangerous place, particularly for those working at height. But the situation can be much worse in the colder winter months when accidents are more likely.
Heavy winter rain can lead to flooding and also make work surfaces more slippery. Depending on your location, even snow and ice can make matters worse while cold conditions can cause reduced dexterity and lower concentration levels for workers. All of these challenges will not only result in more accidents occurring but will also lower productivity so it is in your interest to pay particular attention to preparing your workplace for winter.
Actions to Take to Keep your Workers Safe in Winter
If you are as prepared as you can possibly be for winter, work will progress more smoothly and will be carried out in a safer manner. There are several things you can do:
- Safe working surfaces. Slips and trips are a prime cause of accidents and these are even more dangerous when working at height. If working surfaces are slippery due to rainfall or ice, apply rock salt or de-icer to melt the ice and a layer of grit to give a firmer grip. Although you are required to have fall prevention and fall arrest systems in place on a roof, additional measures to prevent falls are necessary in winter.
- Keep workers warm and dry. If workers are cold and wet for long periods, this will adversely affect the standard of their work and their safety because they will not be able to concentrate properly on what they are doing. To keep them warm and dry, equip them with:
- Clothing that is insulated and waterproof, comprising more than one layer if necessary.
- Boots that have non-slip soles and are waterproof so that workers have dry feet and are in less danger of falling.
- Socks that will keep feet warm.
- Gloves that are well-insulated and weather-proof but have sufficient flexibility so that workers’ fingers remain dextrous.
- Headwear such as a wool hat or balaclava for warmth and a hood to keep dry.
- Sufficient rest breaks. In really cold and wet weather, workers should be given somewhere warm and dry to rest and shelter so they can recover from the effects. Warm drinks and first aid facilities should be provided and frequent breaks allowed if the weather is really severe. A rest in warm and dry conditions will mean people are better prepared to work and will be more alert and focused.
- Plentiful supplies. At times of severe weather, transport can be disrupted and so materials and equipment may not come through on time. Ensure you have more plentiful stocks than in summer, keep driveways clear so transport can get in and liaise with your delivery companies.
- Be alert and prepared. It is essential you have a plan in case there is disruption and you must communicate this to all workers. Also, pay particular attention to hazards and put up signs to warn of difficult areas, particularly on roofs.
Preparation is Key
If you prepare properly and take the necessary precautions, there’s no reason why work cannot progress as efficiently and safely in winter as it does at other times of the year. You may need to take additional measures for people with disabilities since they may have reduced dexterity.
At Workplace Access & Safety, we specialise in helping companies keep their employees safe and have extensive experience of the challenges of working at height in all weathers. Contact us and we’ll ensure you get through the winter well and in complete safety.
