Companies, workers, and consumers may face additional hurdles while operating a business during the harsh winter months. Winter safety is important. Fortunately, there are a few basic things you can do to mitigate the effects of winter weather and keep customers and staff safe throughout the season of slips and falls. All it takes is just some preparation, attentiveness, and the participation of your employees and business partners. Use ServiceMaster Janitorial Services’ five top winter workplace safety precautions in the easy checklist below.
It is important that employees are also safe no matter what the weather condition is. Winter safety is the best safeguard today.
For Businesses: Winter Safety Work Checklist
- Remind staff to put on appropriate footwear.
Remind staff to use the appropriate footwear for the weather circumstances. Snow boots that are insulated and water-resistant have superior traction and dependability in the winter than conventional shoes or sneakers, reducing the danger of falling. Remind staff not to hurry and that taking incremental moves might enable them to react more quickly to changes in traction. Allowing your business to become an unsafe place to work in the winter is not a good idea. Use these five recommendations to guarantee that your facility and personnel are appropriately outfitted to be safe during the season.
- Clear the snow and ice off the walks.
Ensure that your parking lot, sidewalks, and other exterior pathways are clean of snow and ice at all times. To assist contribute to the accessibility of public locations, consider urging nearby companies to do the same. Put down salt the night before if the weather forecast calls for snow or cold conditions, and consider hiring a snow removal service for big storms. Of course, employees should be reminded to drive carefully on their route to and from work.
- Install absorbent rugs and mats on the floor.
If you know your employees or customers may track in melting snow or ice, make sure your business is outfitted to collect extra water and dirt with absorbent floor rugs and mats. To avoid as many slips and trips as possible, provide mats at all entrances and exits. If there is any standing water on the floor, get it wiped up as soon as possible.
- Have an emergency supply kit on hand.
Nobody wants to be stranded at work, but if you do find yourself trapped during a winter storm, make sure you have the necessary safety and survival supplies on hand. A battery- or solar-powered radio, flashlights, thermal blankets, clean water, and non-perishable food to last at least three days should all be included in your emergency pack, in addition to a typical first-aid kit.
- Stay compliant and use your caution signs.
Certain regulations and standards for walking and working surfaces, as well as warning signs, are set out by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ensure that your pathways and signs comply with OSHA regulations so that you can warn people if conditions are damp or slick. As soon as a hazard is recognized, put up warning signs and make sure they are visible to everyone walking through the area. Winter safety is the best precaution.
No matter how the weather conditions is, winter safety is always a must especially when we are going to work everyday. Precaution is always better than cure. Being safe whenever we are is always part of us as individual. Wearing the proper outfit and accessories can help us keep ourselves healthy and safe at the same time. It maybe during the winter or with the pandemic. Keep safe and healthy, everyone!
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