Winter may be one of the most beautiful seasons of the year, with the chance of glistening snow and the thought of wrapping up warm and cosy making it seem like a very magical time.
However, winter also brings with it additional hazards, and the amount of workers that suffer an accident at work often rises once the temperature starts to drop. Drastic weather changes can severely affect a workplace – even if the employees work inside.
Slips and Falls
Winter – for the most part – is usually very wet here in the UK. If it hasn’t given a good go at snowing, you can be sure there will be plenty of rain to keep us all feeling suitably damp on our way to and from work.
However, the wet weather brings with it a whole host of slippery surfaces, making slips and falls more likely, not just in the workplace, but in everyday life, too. Workplaces are often a much more dangerous environment, and any risk of injury should be minimised – especially slip and fall risks during the wetter or icier weather.
From tiled or laminate flooring becoming wet from the moisture being brought in, to leaves and other debris coming in off people’s shoes or blowing in through a door or window, it’s important to become extra vigilant and take the appropriate action to help minimise the chances of slipping or falling due to the winter weather.
As an individual, this could mean finding more appropriate footwear with grip which is designed for wetter weather. Maybe swap the dress shoes if you are in an office for trainers or walking boots to make your way into work and change out of them into more formal office-appropriate once you get to your desk. The same should apply if the weather begins to become icy; slipping on ice is always a worry, and the risk can be minimised by wearing footwear which allows more grip on icy surfaces.
If you are an employer, it could be advisable to install a doormat at the entrance to your office to help soak up some of the water as people enter to reduce the amount of water dripping from shoes and being trailed through the office.
You could also ensure that your property is kept clear of any slip or fall risks such as leaves by having them cleared regularly. Watch out for slippery areas underneath trees where leaves could have fallen and started to break down. It’s also advisable to grit all walkways around your property to ensure that employees and clients alike can enter as safely as possible.
Poor Driving Conditions
Driving in adverse weather conditions always comes with a warning, whether you drive as part of your job or not. Being on the road when the weather is throwing everything it can at you can be very stressful, and often very scary for even the most experienced driver.
Stopping distance is greatly reduced, and coupled with poor visibility, it can make for an accident waiting to happen if extra caution is not applied. Reducing speed will give drivers more reaction time should they need to slow down.
Leaves can also be a menace on the roads, reducing grip and making road conditions very slippery where even stopping distances may not help with reducing skidding. Leaves can also hide uneven road conditions such as potholes, so be very careful when driving over leaf littered roads.
If you are driving on a high speed road such as a motorway, the tyres of your vehicle can lose contact with the road, which means that steering control is lost. This is known as aquaplaning and is extremely dangerous. If possible, try to avoid travelling on high speed routes when rain is heavy.
Black ice is also a massive issue on the roads. Often invisible to drivers, it can be very difficult to avoid. Even though main roads are often gritted in preparation for icy spells, black ice can still form, causing loss of control of the vehicle’s steering and making it very difficult to stop. Extra care should be taken on icy days to reduce the risk of accident.
Work accident claims can help you get back on your feet if you have suffered an accident while at work. Whether it’s weather related health and safety policy failures or a result of someone else’s actions, we can help you fight your case and get you the compensation you deserve.
For more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today by calling 01772 562084 where one of our friendly, experienced team will be more than happy to help you start your claims journey.