Tips on Preventing Slips and Trips in Winter Weather

The measures you take to reduce the risk of slips and trips in winter weather will be most effective when they are as a result of a comprehensive risk assessment.

• Identify the areas most likely to be affected by ice, frost or snow that cover pedestrian routes (such as building entrances, walkways, shortcuts and areas that are often shielded from the sun or wet)
• Keep track of the temperature and pay attention to weather forecasts by services like the Met Office and the Highways Agency
• Apply grit to potentially affected areas
• Cover the potentially affected area with a canopy or protective shelter that people can walk under
• Discourage pedestrians from taking shortcuts over any non-maintained areas
• Divert pedestrian traffic to safer pathways by cordoning off affected areas using barrier systems (if cones are used to do this make sure they are removed when no longer needed or they will be ignored in the future)
• If prevention is not possible, implement procedures to clear the area of snow, leaves or ice using appropriate equipment
• Provide extra matting at building entrances to absorb water from footwear and prevent it from entering the facility
• When none of the above are possible provide appropriate and obvious signage to warn of the danger (you may want to do this anyway)

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