How to prevent the most common winter workplace injuries

Winter months always pose unique challenges for employers, as weather conditions are unpredictable and can quickly create unsafe situations. It's even more complicated this year, as some equipment may have been idle last year, more workers were home last winter and may have forgotten important safety behaviors, there is greater employee turnover, and more inexperienced workers on the job. An additional challenge is the compensability of weather-related injuries that occur at the home of remote workers.

While you may get some eye-rolling when you include winter preparedness in your employee training and safety, the number and costs of injuries are significant. The four most common workplace hazards during the winter are slips and falls, motor vehicle accidents, cold stress, and unsafe equipment. It's time to review incident records and inspect locations to identify and assess such hazards as well as consider the impact of changing environmental and physical conditions. Then make sure your employees are prepared for working in winter weather.

Slips, trips, and falls: common hazards and mitigations

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2017, there were more than 20,000 work injuries involving ice, sleet, or snow that required at least one day away from work, not including the falls from heights or through surfaces. A Mid-West insurance agency reports the average winter slip and fall lost-time claim is between $40,000 and $45,000.

Common hazards include poor snow and ice removal on walkways and parking lots, slippery surfaces on loading docks, clogged and undrained gutters, ice dams, deteriorated steps, loose or broken handrails, inadequate lighting, insufficient signage, wet ladders, and snow-covered roofs. Here are some tips to mitigate winter slips and falls:

• Clear ice and snow before workers need to get in or out of the workplace and keep parking lots and walkways clear of snow and ice. Have a reliable contractor or in-house maintenance for snow removal. Be particularly cognition of snow removal from roofs and be sure that all responsibilities, including timing and frequency, are clearly defined.
• Maintain an adequate supply of de-icing products, such as rock salt, to last for several snowstorms.
• Have enough shovels on hand and, if applicable, ensure the snowblower is properly maintained. A long roof rake is an important tool to prevent ice dams.
• Keep walkways and parking lots well-lit and clearly marked.
• Check gutters regularly and be sure they are drained away from walkways and dock areas.
• Keep loading docks dry. Many docks aren't sealed well and even small openings around the perimeter of a docked trailer can let in rain, snow, or sleet. If daylight is visible through a perimeter gap, it's time to consider upgrading seals and/or shelters. Try to minimize the amount of time dock doors are open, use equipment like safety mats, rain shrouds, air curtains, and fans to keep moisture from building up or freezing.
• Encourage employees to wear slip-resistant footwear. OSHA recommends wearing insulated, water-resistant boots with good rubber soles. In certain conditions, ice cleats should be required.
• Review with employees how to walk safely in snow and icy conditions. Exercising caution when getting in and out of vehicles, keeping hands empty and arms free for stabilization, taking short steps, and walking slowly.
• Clearly identify steps, ramps, and other elevation changes.
• Regularly take note of the condition of the working areas. Clean up spills and wet areas inside immediately and place "caution slip hazard" cones and signs at every exit and areas where water is present. Non-slip safety mats at doorways and on loading docks can reduce the potential for slips.
• When the worksite is outdoors, clear the work area, and establish a good, clean path for access to vehicles and equipment. When possible, use aerial lifts instead of ladders to eliminate the need to climb slippery ladder rungs. Substituting footwear with ice cleats for regular work shoes or boots can increase traction and reduce slip and fall risks.
• If possible, designate an employee whose job it is to oversee that winter precautions are properly implemented.
• Solicit employee feedback to find out where the problem areas are and fix them.
• Investigate and know where the incident occurred and determine who exercises control over the area. Subrogation or the "coming and going" rule may come into play regarding compensability.

In addition to ensuring the winter work safety of your workplace, it's important to also consider the exposure of remote workers and set expectations for winter safety behaviors. One of the most frequent categories of injuries with work from home injuries is slips, trips, and falls, which can be worse in the wintertime. Several years ago, there was a case in Virginia, Miller v. Walsworth Publ'g Co., Inc., where an employee who worked from home slipped on the ice in her driveway on the way to get into her car to drive to a client meeting. The fall was compensable because she went right from her home office to her car without any intervening non-work activities and the ice was considered a condition of the workplace. The laws vary by state and compensability will be dependent on the particulars of each case.

Motor vehicle accidents

Whether an employee drives a personal car or company vehicle, sleet, ice, and snow can make even the shortest drives treacherous. Precautionary measures include regular maintenance, proper tires for weather conditions, checking windshield wiper blades and fluids regularly, properly defrosting windows, and making sure snow and ice are cleared from the windows, lights, and roof of the vehicle. In training, emphasize driving techniques that mitigate accidents in icy conditions, including black ice.

The National Safety Council (NSC) recommends that drivers pack an emergency safety kit, including such items as a basic tool kit, sunglasses, flares and reflective triangles, a blanket, heavy clothing, gloves, hat, jumper cables, non-perishable food and water, small shovel, flashlight and extra batteries, kitty litter or ice bite for emergency traction, mobile phone and charger, ice scraper and snow brush, and matches in a waterproof container.

Again, it's important to consider the exposure of remote workers. When the employee works at the workplace, the Going and Coming Rule generally prevents benefits for an employee who is injured while commuting to or from work since the employee is not "rendering any service to the employer" during the commute. However, this gets muddied with remote or hybrid working situations. When an employee is required to work at both the employer's premise and at home, the employee's home can be considered a secondary job site. Some courts have found that traveling between the two locations are within the course and scope of employment and therefore, the Coming and Going Rule does not apply. Therefore, if the employee drives from their home to go to a workplace meeting or pick up materials and is in an accident, the injuries could be compensable.

Cold stress

It does not have to be below freezing to suffer a cold stress injury; wind speed and wetness can also lead to permanent tissue damage and even death. The industries with the highest rates of cold stress injuries include heavy construction, oil and gas extraction, trucking and warehousing, protective services, electric and gas utilities, and sanitation. Vehicle breakdown, contact with gasoline, alcohol, or water all are contributing factors.

To prevent cold stress injuries including frostbite, hypothermia, and trench feet:

• Recognize the environmental and workplace conditions that could lead to cold-induced illnesses and injuries.
• Educate and train workers about the conditions that cause cold-induced injuries and illnesses, the symptoms, and what actions to take.
• Management should aid employees in their selection of proper clothing for cold, wet, and windy conditions. While OSHA does not have a standard requiring certain clothing, it does recommend wearing at least three layers of loose-fitting clothing for protection, including an inner layer of wool, silk, or synthetic, a middle layer of wool or synthetic, and an outer layer protecting against wind or rain. The clothing should be loose to boost circulation, and insulated gloves and hats should be worn for additional protection as well.
• Protective eyewear may be hindered by fogging or ice crystallization. Select a face covering that mitigates condensation when wearing protective eyewear.
• A helmet liner or skull cap can be used to retain warmth while wearing a helmet.
• Wrap the handles of metal tools to insulate them so that employees aren't grasping cold handles.
• If the skin gets wet, dry off immediately. Wet skin freezes at a higher temperature than dry skin.
• Take frequent short breaks in warm, dry shelters or designated areas with radiant heat to allow the body to warm up.
• Use plastic sheeting or tarps to help shield workers from drafts and cold winds. Providing warm portable toilets in addition to shelters or heaters encourages employees to stay hydrated.
• Work should be performed during the warmest part of the day, if possible.
• Avoid exhaustion or fatigue because energy is needed to keep the muscles warm.
• Work in pairs.
• Drink warm, sweet beverages. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
• Include a thermometer and chemical hot packs in first aid kits.

Equipment

Cold weather conditions add to the challenges of operating equipment safely. Here are some tips:

• Remember to de-ice and clear snow from equipment, including areas where employees may climb or stand.
• Exercise caution when using tracked machinery that may be prone to sliding or rollover in winter conditions.
• When possible, the installation of anti-slip material can help prevent slip or fall injuries. Existing anti-slip material should be regularly inspected to ensure it is providing proper traction.
• Keep an eye on diesel exhaust fluid and be sure operators are properly trained to understand the fault codes.
• Use seasonally appropriate oils, grease, and fluids.
• Check batteries, wires, and hoses to be sure they haven't frozen. Give equipment ample time to warm up.
• The reduced visibility that can come with shorter days and cloudy skies creates a more hazardous working environment. Plan the work schedule accordingly, be sure lights and all audible devices are working properly on equipment.
• Undertake equipment maintenance at the end of the workday. Be sure to clean the track, undercarriage, driveline, articulation joints, and steer cylinders to prevent mud from freezing. Check intake for snow and ice. Rinse off dirt and salt to prevent corroding.
• Clear off snow or ice from the equipment's tires and park it on planks to prevent the tires from freezing to the ground. And check the tire pressure regularly. If the pressure drops, use dry nitrogen to refill the tires.

For more information:

General

https://www.guard.com/blog/2019/10/10/blizzard-snowstorm-safety/

https://www.ehstoday.com/safety/article/21919923/warm-up-your-workforce-using-hierarchy-of-controls

https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/tools-resources/seasonal-safety/winter/driving

Cold Stress

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/coldstress/ .

https://www.osha.gov/winter-weather/cold-stress