The Safety Managers Guide To Reducing Slips & Falls on Ice & Snow

W e d o n ' t j u s t m a k e i c e c l e a t s , w e m a k e s l i p s a n d f a l l s d i s a p p e a r. â„¢

THE SAFETY MANAGERS GUIDE TO REDUCING SLIPS AND FALLS ON ICE AND SNOW

Winter Walking 400 Babylon Road Horsham, PA 19044 1-888-NO-SLIPS

Proud Member

If your company has employees that must regularly walk outdoors despite the weather conditions you’re no doubt aware of the risks of slipping and falling on ice and snow once winter rolls around. Generally speaking there are three proven methods of mitigating the risk of slips and falls; Eliminate the job task, Clean (or housekeep) the compromised area, or Improve the Traction underfoot.

For more information on these 3 Surefire ways to reduce slips and fall, click here.

If eliminating the job task is unrealistic and housekeeping hasn’t done the trick in your battle against slip and falls, it’s time to turn your efforts to what may be the most effective method, improving the traction under your employees’ feet.

BEFORE WE EXPLORE THIS SOLUTION, LET’S TAKE A MOMENT TO DISSECT THE PROBLEM. With every step your employees take, whether it’s indoors or out there is a measurable level of friction between the bottom of their footwear and surface that they are walking on. The success of each step is dependent upon this level of friction. If the friction level is high enough traction is created and walking is easy and safe, but if the friction drops below a certain point and traction is minimized, every step becomes hazardous.

W e d o n ' t j u s t m a k e i c e c l e a t s , w e m a k e s l i p s a n d f a l l s d i s a p p e a r. ™

Friction will vary widely from one walking surfaces to the next as well as from one type of shoe to another. There will be more friction on a rough sidewalk than on freshly coated tarmac.

As well, there will be more friction from a treaded rubber soled shoe than flat leather soles.

Additionally, the grading of the walking surfaces in terms of inclines and declines can also affect the level of friction.

B

A

B

A

In Figure 1, a normal rubber soled shoe (A) will contact a normal clean outdoor walking surface (B) creating a safe walking environment.

Factoring in all types of shoe soles, walking surfaces and grades there are an exponential amount of resulting levels of friction. Despite this fact, generally speaking, most footwear on a normal flat walking surface will be safe. However, once you introduce a contaminant to the walking surface such as ice, snow and slush normal rubber soled shoes will rarely offer enough traction to create a safe walking condition.

A A

C C

B B

In Figure 2, a contaminant such as ice or snow (C) has coated the walking surface reducing the level of friction necessary for safe walking.

A W e d o n ' t j u s t m a k e i c e c l e a t s , w e m a k e s l i p s a n d f a l l s d i s a p p e a r. ™

C

A

The slippery elements of winter; ice, slush and snow will mercilessly render almost any walking

B

surface unsafe. If your employees must walk in these conditions the minimal levels of friction that exist every time they plant their foot will bring treachery to each step and the risk of slipping and falling will permeate your workforce.

The trick here is to offset this loss of traction, and the simplest and most effective way to do that is with a category of safety items known as Traction Aids.

A

C

D

B

In figure 3, the employee is employing the use of an ice cleat or traction aid (D) which will serve to increase the level of traction on the ice and snow and reduce the likelihood of a slip and fall.

Traction aids are any type of product that can be worn on your feet that will serve to increase walking traction. The idea is simple, as the contaminant (ice, snow or slush) has coated the walking surface Traction Aids provide your employees with a passive method of negating the slippery surface. While it’s still necessary to walk with caution even with Traction Aids, merely the idea of having enhanced traction under foot will enable your employees to walk more safely than with any normal rubber soled shoe.

W e d o n ' t j u s t m a k e i c e c l e a t s , w e m a k e s l i p s a n d f a l l s d i s a p p e a r. ™

DESPITE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TRACTION AIDS, MANY SAFETY PROFESSIONALS ARE BARELY AWARE OF THEIR EXISTENCE. Mostly this is due to the lack of regulations surrounding winter walking surfaces. But regardless, Traction Aids should be a core part of your winter safety program. The category of Traction Aids has been around for well over 50 years and there are literally hundreds of variations of traction aids today all specifically designed to increase traction in ice and snow.

To learn more about the Wide Variety of Traction Aid Designs click here.

Traction aids refer to a wide variety of items that go by many names. They may be called industrial ice cleats, ice spikes, snow spikes, snow cleats, ice grippers, grippers, non-slip footwear, anti-slip footwear, high traction footwear, traction devices, shoe grips, winter grips or crampons just to name a few. There may in fact be as many names for traction aids as there are products in the market place, but regardless of the names, the products are all intended to serve the same purpose and that’s to increase the traction underfoot to a level that is safe for walking.

If you have employees that are exposed to slips and falls outdoors during the winter it’s time to familiarize yourself with the category of traction aids – the simplest and most effective way to combat slips and falls in ice and snow. Speak with your safety supplier or open a search engine and search for “industrial ice cleats”. Outfitting your employees with Traction Aids is guaranteed to make every step they take this winter safer.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THOUGHT, CLICK BELOW TO RATE THE QUALITY OF THIS CONTENT.

L

K

J

W e d o n ' t j u s t m a k e i c e c l e a t s , w e m a k e s l i p s a n d f a l l s d i s a p p e a r. ™

Winter Walking provides slip and fall awareness resources through our Safety Partner Program. When you work with Winter Walking, your slips and falls become our slips and falls and we won’t stop until they disappear. Don’t wait until winter to start preparing, learn how Winter Walking can start reducing your company’s slip and fall accidents today.

CLICK HERE TO START YOUR FREE SLIP AND FALL RISK ANALYSIS WITH ONE OF OUR TRACTION SAFETY EXPERTS.

W e d o n ' t j u s t m a k e i c e c l e a t s , w e m a k e s l i p s a n d f a l l s d i s a p p e a r. ™