WINTER MAINTENANCE PLAN AND PROTECT
In our ‘blame culture’ society, businesses need to protect themselves from risks such as personal injury claims. With this in mind, Louise Hosking, Director at Hosking Associates, provides some health and safety tips to help navigate the colder months.
During periods of bad weather there is a higher incidence of slips and trips. Our advice is to always plan ahead for the winter; organisations should make sure they are ready and have a plan in place. Protecting the people who use your premises (employees, suppliers and customers) is paramount.
WINTER WEATHER HEALTH & SAFETY TIPS 1. All businesses should regularly check they’re not exposing others to potential slip, trip or fall risks; this can be undertaken by simple walk-through checks.
2. Ensure surface water drains are running freely, so areas which can pond (or flood), and therefore freeze, do not become mini ice rinks. Likewise, deal with pot holes which can have the same effect. Prioritise busy paths if resources are tight.
3. Ensure you clearly communicate with site users where these safe routes are. This could be via signage, notices (e.g. a marked site plan), or by email depending on your organisation. It may be relevant to close parts of your site which cannot be made safe (for example exposed ramps on car parks). Again, work with your site users, tenants or residents so they are clear on what they can expect.
4. If your organisation needs to close, think about how you might communicate this information to your team so everyone knows as soon as possible. If roads or routes are clearly treacherous, workers should not be expected to use their vehicles –
Many businesses worry if they clear snow/ice and someone slips, they are more likely to be subject to claims than if they did nothing at all. Provided you have a policy in place, you plan in advance and check the robustness of your arrangements once in place, this will not be the case.
The clearance work which you undertake, and the plans you make now, may mean your business or school can operate when your competitors have had to close.
So, is your business ready for the white stuff?
An article by the HSE should also provide further assurances: click here
www.hosking-associates.com 50 | TOMORROW’S FM
twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
www.hse.gov.uk/news/judith-risk-assessment/marypickles180113.htm
again organisations need to consider a) how they communicate this, and b) how they can minimise the potential impact it will have.
5. Take responsibility – if you’re going to outsource your gritting and snow clearing to contractors, make sure you choose the right one. Clearly scope the work they do and whether they have sufficient local resources and capabilities to deliver the service in all weather conditions. Don’t be pushed into a ‘one-size-fits-all’ contract - examine the needs of your site and work closely with the contractor, to ensure they are met.
6. Undertake training - if you plan to use internal resource, invest in training. De-Ice offers the equipment and training programmes for companies who want to learn more about how to do it.
7. Keep an eye on temperatures and the forecast – it is your responsibility to be aware of the forecast and to react accordingly.
8. Don’t be caught out – no two winters are ever the same. Planning ahead and having the necessary resources and training means your company won’t be left out in the cold when a severe winter does hit.
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