Winter Workplace Safety

Prepare Now To Avoid Costly Injuries

by Shelley Robinson

With winter upon us, Missouri Employers Mutual encourages your business to take steps to prepare for changing weather conditions. MEM injury statistics show that winter slip, trip and falls are leading cause of employee injury in Missouri. Preparation, prevention and management are all things to take note of so that you can prevent injuries and reduce work comp costs during the winter months.

Prepare

Winter weather storms are often unpredictable and can last for several days. That’s why it’s crucial to prepare for winter weather threats and develop an action plan.

• Know what’s headed your way: Use smart phones and the internet to stay aware of weather forecasts.

• Hold quick safety meetings or send winter safety reminder messages prior to weather events.

• Review safe footwear recommendations and put expectations in writing.

Prevent

Facilities and maintenance staff play an important role in keeping parking lots, sidewalks and interior walkways clean and well-maintained. Management should routinely meet with these employees to review procedures and discuss winter-related exposures.

Outside

 Putting inspection and snow removal procedures in place is key to preventing injuries. Follow these guidelines:

• Pre-treat walkways, steps and curbs with ice melt before winter weather approaches.
• Verify lighting systems in parking areas are working properly. Deficient lighting makes it hard to see patches of snow and ice.
• Select and flag safe walking paths.
• Use barricades and safety cones to block off unsafe areas.
• Inspect walkways often. Flag safe paths and remove snow buildup.
• Avoid pushing snow uphill as it will melt, run downhill and refreeze.

Inside

Slip, trips and falls often occur when employees track in snow, ice melt and water.  Ensure your entrances are checked often for slip hazards and pay special attention to floors and floor mats. Use a fan to dry wet floors and keep a mop close by for cleaning up melted snow. Floor mats can be a major trip hazard when rolled up and may need to be replaced throughout the day.

Manage

Whether you experience a claim or not, it’s important to be ready in advance to manage your claim effectively.

• Control medical costs: This is key to managing overall work comp costs. Choose a carrier with resources in place to help you handle rising medical costs. Look for elements such as a pharmacy benefit program, in-house nurse case managers, a robust medical network and specialized staff.

• Report claims promptly: Know how to report a claim to your carrier and what to expect from them in return. Prompt claims reporting is the only way to get resources working for you and manage the claim effectively for everyone involved.

• Return injured employees to work: The cost of replacing an employee can mean a significant investment for your business—on average up to one-third of a new hire’s annual salary. A transitional duty return to work program returns injured employees back to work—and life—as safety and successfully.

More winter weather workplace safety tips and claims management information can be found at worksafecenter.com.

Shelley Robinson (srobins1@mem-ins.com or 573.449.4124) is a Marketing Communication Specialist at Missouri Employers Mutual, Missouri’s No. 1 provider of workers compensation insurance. MEM can help you eliminate injuries and reduce your work comp costs. Visit www.worksafecenter.com for your workplace safety needs.