Falls on the ice
Every year, workers are injured on the job by slipping, tripping, losing their balance or taking a false step. Falls cause over 7,000 workplace injuries every year.
Tips to prevent ice-related accidents:
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- Have an adequate snow removal program for parking lots and entrances to establishments;
- Install awnings at entrances;
- Be sure to make de-icing products available;
- During the winter period, provide removable crampons for workers who have to visit customers outside the workplace.
Although they may seem benign, falls often have serious consequences, such as fractures or concussions. Did you know that the associated costs are higher than the average for other accidents?
Frostbite
The most common types of frostbite among workers are on the feet, ears, hands and nose.
When preventing frostbite, it’s important to take into account the wind, which is a major cooling factor. In fact, if your thermometer reads -23°C and the wind is blowing at 40 km/h, it’s actually -38°C. At this temperature, any part of the body exposed to the wind can freeze between 10 and 30 minutes.
Tips to prevent frostbite:
- Heat the workstation;
- Heated shelters;
- Cover handles and metal bars with thermal insulation.
- Wear clothing appropriate to the temperature and the nature of the tasks to be performed, and cover your head;
- Alternate work and warm-up periods (see CNESST brochure). Working in the cold! Preventing and treating frostbite and hypothermia);
- Reorganize work so that planned outdoor tasks can be completed during the hottest part of the day.
Sources : http://www.csst.qc.ca/prevention/risques-priorises/Pages/chute-meme-niveau.aspx http://asstsas.qc.ca/publication/op-vol-37-no-2 https://www.csst.qc.ca/prevention/theme/travail_froid/Pages/avant_toute_chose_proteger_froid.aspx https://www.csst.qc.ca/prevention/theme/travail_froid/Pages/prevenir_soigner_gelures.aspx
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
