Good Morning,

Winter is quickly approaching the Northeast, and its important to prepare, equip, and train for the winter weather. Winter presents several challenges and hazards for any individual including slips, trips, falls, illnesses, commuting hazards, hyperthermia, etc.

Things to you can do for your workforce:

Slips, Trips, Falls

1. Make sure worksite is evaluated of hazards and all snow/ice is removed from working surfaces
2. Ensure Fall protection is up to working standards and take extreme precaution when removing snow/ice from elevated work areas
3. Having employees wear proper footwear with good traction and insulation. Worn out boots can contribute to accidents.
4. Make sure workforce is taking their time moving around the site and not rushing.

Illnesses

1. Stay home if symptomatic.
2. Employers should encourage workforce to dress in layers and make sure their boots are waterproof and insulated. Also important to bring extra clothing.
3. Provide additional breaks to avoid exposure to prolonged freezing temperatures.
4. Acclimate new workers gradually to cold weather exposure.
5. Train employees on symptoms of cold stress.

Winter Driving and Traffic Safety

1. Ensure tires and brakes on all vehicles are up to standard on work vehicles. Also important to remind workforce to check their personal vehicles.
2. Make sure to set up proper worksite zones with cones, barriers, and signage with enough distance to account for slipping and loss of control. of vehicles.
3. Always wear high visible clothing in case of inclement weather.

Even though these all seem very simple, they are very easy to follow and can make the difference between a returning home safely or a major accident.

Here are some additional resources to distribute to your workers:

OSHA

Milwaukee

There are also several tool box talks on this topic in the Safety Meeting App and eSafetyline website that are included in your NYECA membership. You may also find resources covering accident investigation on the NYECA website here.

We encourage anyone interested in participating in the NYECA Safety Committee to reach out to evangelista@nyeca.org.

The next meeting will be taking place via Zoom on Tuesday February 11 at 3:00pm.

If you have any question, you may reach out to the Association Office.

Thank You