Slips and falls are the leading cause of lost days from work in the U.S. In fact, over one million Americans are injured due to slips and falls annually with the rate of injuries dramatically increasing during the winter months. With the weather turning frigid, company safety directors can help assure worker security with these nine winter fall prevention tips for the workplace:

1. Winter fall prevention begins with clearing all walking surfaces of snow and ice to prevent slips and trips.
2. Make sure you educate employees on the risks of overexertion in the cold. Frigid temperatures can increase the risk of hypothermia, frostbite, and heart attack — even in otherwise healthy individuals.
3. Evaluate snow removal tasks for hazards and plan how to do the work safely.
4. Make sure that powered equipment like snow blowers is properly grounded to protect workers from shocks or electrocution.
5. Inspect all company vehicles to make sure they’re in good working condition for winter driving.
6. Make sure batteries are charged, tires are properly inflated and there is at least a half-full tank of gas.
7. Inform employees of winter driving hazards. Always have employees remove ice and snow from windows, mirrors, and lights. Have them increase their following distance from 3-4 seconds to 8-10 seconds on wet or snowy roads to leave room in case they need to stop.
8. Always have employees wear footwear with non-slip or non-skid treads for increased traction.
9. Ensure outdoor workers wear brightly colored or reflective clothing to make themselves visible to drivers.

We at Security Specialists Want You and Your Workers to Stay Safe this Winter Season!