Start planning for bad weather now

Sep 19, 2011

All caravan and motorhome dealers, caravan and holiday park operators will have external areas under their control. Whether it is the paths around the show ground or the footpaths to the shower block or site launderette and shop, senior managers have a duty of care to people using these areas in bad weather.

Every year as the bad weather approaches, and often after the first fall of snow, the question arises “to grit or not to grit?”

There is a belief that you should not clear snow and ice as this will make you liable for any accidents that occur on the areas cleared. However, information from the Direct Gov website encourages members of the public to clear pavements and public areas of snow and ice. The advice is that:-

“If you clear snow and ice yourself, be careful - don’t make the pathways more dangerous by causing them to refreeze. But don’t be put off clearing paths because you’re afraid someone will get injured. Remember, people walking on snow and ice have responsibility to be careful themselves”.

Health & safety legislation requires an employer to keep every traffic route (including pedestrian traffic) free from substances which may cause a person to slip, trip or fall. Snow and ice could be seen as such as substance. However, how far the employer must clear traffic routes depends on the circumstances of the premises and the resources available.

Planning for Snow and Ice on Site

We would recommend that planning for the bad weather starts now. Managers should consider the following points when deciding what should be done to adequately minimise the risks of people slipping and falling in bad weather.

Decide what can be reasonably and practicably done

Consider the resources that will be available when bad weather strikes in terms of manpower and equipment. How many staff could be called upon, usually early in the morning, to spread grit? What equipment will be on hand to spread the grit?

Prioritise the areas that should be cleared of snow and ice for the premises to operate safely. Priority areas should be the entrance areas to amenity blocks, paths leading to the site shop and office, one or more water points, doorways to showrooms etc.

It may be impracticable to keep all water points, roadways, car parks and pathways around a premises clear of snow and ice and many areas may need to be left untreated.

Clear the snow & ice and maintain the areas

Have plans in place to clear the prioritised areas of snow and ice so that they are safe to use. They should be kept in a safe condition and not made more dangerous by clearing the ice in a negligent way or by allowing them to refreeze. Everyone involved in the plan should be trained so they know what to do in the absence of a senior manager.

Tell everyone what you are doing

Park users should be informed in advance of what the bad weather plan is. Information stating which areas will be prioritised for clearing should be made available, possibly through means of a marked up plan of the site displayed at reception. State the hours of the day during which these areas will be maintained as it may not be possible to keep areas ice free overnight, even though amenity blocks may be open overnight.

All employees should be advised of the plan so they know what to expect in bad weather when they arrive for work.

It is more difficult with members of the public visiting parks and dealerships. One option is to display signs warning “Danger – untreated surfaces” so the public will know that some areas may not be treated at all and that they should take extra care. Remember, people walking on snow and ice have responsibility to be careful themselves.

Ensure the resources are in place before the bad weather

Managers should check that adequate stocks of grit, salt or sand and any necessary equipment such as wheel barrows, shovels, grit spreaders etc. will be available before the bad weather strikes. Perhaps now is the time to start building up supplies before grit becomes scarce and the prices rise accordingly.

Risk assessments

A premises specific risk assessment for operating the site in bad weather should be carried out and recorded. This assessment and the bad weather plan should be reviewed during the bad weather or prior to it if forecasts predict very bad weather conditions.

Ultimately a decision may have to be taken to close parts of the site in extreme circumstances but at least forward planning will allow business to continue in a relatively safe manner for as long as possible.