4 Major Winter Hazards and How to Avoid Them
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Winter transcends industry, job and experience level in the workplace. Working outdoors and driving in Canada during winter presents a number of challenges including cold temperatures, avalanches, poor visibility and icy conditions.
Here are some simple precautions you can take to help you minimize the dangers that winter presents.
Stay warm
Take regular breaks to warm up and make sure you and your team have adequate gear to stay warm outside. A base layer plus waterproof, insulated protective clothing is essential. Keeping your head, hands and feet insulated will help you to keep warm. Hand and foot warmers are a good option on extra cold days, we recommend you keep these in your pockets at all times.
Watch out for slips
Good footwear makes a big difference on the job. Make sure to select a style that has both grip and insulation. Slip-on grips such as YakTrax Pro Ice Grips or Get-a-Grip Winter Traction Slip-On Spikes are good to have on-hand for extra icy conditions. There are numerous styles of boots available that are winter lined and have the required safety toes.
Be prepared for winter driving
Avalanches, breakdowns and road closures are a regular occurrence in winter. Prepare yourself for an emergency with a vehicle kit. When driving in winter always allow extra time for bad weather and make sure to check conditions before leaving. Always let your co-workers know where you are going and when you are expected to return and check-back at regular intervals.
Be aware of low-light conditions
Snow and bad weather reduce visibility and winter weather can change quickly. High-visibility protective clothing with reflective striping is the best option for working outdoors.Winter poses unique risks to safety , and preparation is key. Treen Safety, a sponsor of our SafetyLine Website Launch Party, has an incredible amount of safety equipment that can get you geared up for winter.