Slips, trips, and falls are one of the leading causes of injuries and fatalities in the workplace. According to OSHA, slip, trip, and fall incidents cause 15% of all accidental deaths, and are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities on the job. Snow, sleet, and ice greatly increase the chances for slip, trip, and fall incidents to occur. Ensure you have signed up for critical alerts, including building closings, via the campus emergency notification system at www.uwec.edu/emergency and click on the icon that looks like an iPhone.
Winter Safety Tips: When driving
- Monitor weather for any incoming snow storms or icy conditions and plan your travel around those conditions. Do not put yourself in a situation where you are stuck on a roadside.
- Do not drive in wintery conditions if possible. Eliminating driving eliminates your chances of being in an accident.
- Be a defensive driver. Stay clear of other drivers and maintain a safe distance in case you need to brake or turn to avoid an accident.
- Slow down. Winter weather conditions necessitate having to reduce your speed. Reducing your speed will give you more time to react as well as help to avoid losing control of your vehicle.
When walking on icy/snowy surfaces:
- Remove trip hazards before snow or ice conditions are present. This eliminates someone tripping over a buried object after the snow or ice hits.
- Report icy conditions to Facilities.
- Wear appropriate footwear that provides traction and with solid tread on the soles. Consider having “outdoor” shoes with good traction and keeping stylish/non-weather appropriate footwear in your office.
- Use designated walkways and avoid taking shortcuts.
- Look out for black ice, especially early in the morning and in areas shaded from the sun.
- Take your time when walking across any slippery surfaces.
- Taking smaller steps lessens your chances to lose your chances to lose your balance.
