Don't get caught out by snow and ice
Oct 25, 2011
Most employers will have some external areas to their premises. Whether it is just the steps up to the entrance door, the staff car park or the delivery yard, companies 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, according to the Direct Gov website, the government 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 re freeze. But don’t be put off clearing paths because you’re afraid someone will get injured. Remember, people walking on snow and ice have to take 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 substances. However, how far the employer must clear traffic routes depends on the circumstances of the premises and the resources available, including equipment and manpower.
Planning for Snow and Ice on Site
We would recommend that planning for bad weather starts now. Managers should consider the following points when deciding what should be done to adequately minimise the risk of people slipping and falling in bad weather.
Decide what can be reasonably practically 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 would 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 premises for staff, visitors and members of the public, and goods vehicle delivery areas etc.
It may be impracticable to keep all 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 re freeze. 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
Employees should be informed, in advance, what the bad weather plan is. Information stating which areas will be prioritised for clearing should be made available so employees know what to expect in bad weather when they arrive for work. A markedup plan at the entrances to the premises and on staff notice boards could be used for communicating this information.
Signs at the entrance to public areas advising them of untreated surfaces will allow visitors to decide whether or not to proceed and be prepared to 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 wheelbarrows, 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 premises in extreme circumstances but at least forward planning will allow business to continue in a relatively safe manner for as long as possible.
