Hazard:
Winter! That time of year when those puddles of rain water, water leaks, and fire sprinkler water from hydro tests and flow tests freeze & become an additional hazard – ICE! In addition to cold weather related illnesses such as hypothermia and frost bite, winter weather conditions present the hazard that leads to injuries from slips and falls on ice and snow. VSC employees are subject to injury, as well as other people at a job-site, or who occupy other parts of the property!
Operating mechanical lifts on ice covered parking lots and job-site “yards”, as well as on interior, unheated floors can cause multiple injuries and property damage. VSC employees have been injured carrying material and equipment on ice or snow covered walking surfaces – both exterior (parking lots & sidewalks) and interior (unheated parking decks). In addition, construction sites are more hazardous when forklifts and other heavy equipment operate in these conditions.
Preventative Measures:
To minimize the hazard exposure to you, co-workers and other workers, residents or passers-by:
- Avoid walking across snow or ice covered surfaces. Be especially mindful of wet conditions that may be “black ice” – a thin coat of transparent ice that forms on asphalt and other smooth walking surfaces. When avoidance is not possible:
- Wear proper footwear that provides increased traction for snow and ice conditions;
- Use handrails and banisters for additional support to prevent you from falling;
- Be careful when you shift your weight – walking on steps or onto or off a curb or other elevated surface;
- Look ahead – keep your eyes focused in front of you – avoid carrying items that block your view;
- Notify the property owner or general contractor of any unsafe conditions so that they can clear the area or treat it with ice or snow melt.
- If icy conditions developed as a result of VSC service or inspection work on a customer’s sprinkler system, erect barriers to keep people away from the hazardous condition, salt or sand the area, and report the situation to the owner, property manager or general contractor for additional assistance in treating the icy conditions.