Winter Safety Equipment

Slips, Trips and Falls; UK Laws to Consider

Risk of slips, trips and falls in cold weather

When cold weather causes the build-up of ice and snow, accidents like slips, trips and falls can occur.

If you are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of employees, visitors or others making their way to your premises, it's important to consider how these weather conditions might affect the management of on-site health and safety.

What the law says about slips, trips and falls

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) organisation highlights the UK's laws in relation to slips, trips and falls that occur as a result of cold-weather conditions. These are:

• The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) - employers must take reasonable action to protect their employees from potential hazards.


• The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (Regulation 12) - this regulation focuses on safe flooring, and requires that people are able to safely walk around.


• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Regulation 3) - adds to the HSWA to focus on the duty of employers to carry out proper risk-assessment practices, and to take action based on their discoveries.

With these laws in place, it's crucial that those responsible for managing on-site health and safety keep seasonal hazards in mind. If someone had a serious accident on your site and reasonable action had not been taken to prevent such accidents, you could be held liable for their injury.

Take action to prepare for winter

Our range of winter safety equipment will enable you to take all possible precautions for when the weather gets rough and when slips, trips and falls become more of a risk.

Whether it’s clearing snow, de-icing pathways or putting up signs to inform people of poor weather conditions; we have everything you need to prepare for winter and minimise the risk of slips, trips and falls.

For more information on our winter safety products, please see the buying guide below.

Ice & Snow Equipment: Buying Guide

Ice, snow and floods can cause severe disruption, especially for businesses. Health and safety within the workplace needs to be considered in order to be compliant with current legislation. Extra caution should be taken during winter as treacherous conditions increase the likelihood of accidents occurring.

Unpredictable changes in weather can lead to flash flooding which causes many issues that can be quite costly to put right. However, having the appropriate supplies on-site can prevent emergencies and can allow your business to deal with adverse weather more efficiently.

Snow and Ice Equipment : Your Options Explained

When choosing weather control equipment, it is necessary to calculate the size of the area that needs to be cleared of snow and ice.

Gritting or salting your business premises before adverse weather arrives prevents ice from forming, as white rock salt lowers the temperature that water freezes at. When ice and snow is forecast, you should put down a thin layer of de-icing rock salt or grit before it settles and creates potentially hazardous situations. De-icers work in temperatures as low as -15°C which reduces the risk of disasters in the workplace. We have a wide range of de-icers and rock salts that suit every need, no matter how much or little you require.

If you would like the ability to clear snow from car parks, driveways and footpaths with ease, investing in a snow plough would be worth considering. In wintry conditions snow ploughs have the ability to clear snow rapidly, which reduces the amount of restrictions to businesses, schools and roads. They are easy to use at a moment’s notice which makes them ideal for unexpected snowy weather. For smaller locations our standard one-man snowploughs would be the right choice for you. However, if you have a larger site that is prone to frequent snowfall our heavy-duty snowploughs would be more suitable.

Having the appropriate supplies during winter is crucial. Winter kits provide you with all the essential resources needed to keep even the largest car parks open and protect them from ice and snow. These kits are particularly useful as they feature various equipment such as hazardous signs, de-icing salt, grit bins and other useful items that will keep your employees and visitors safe.

It is also important to consider motor vehicles during wintry weather. Our vehicle kits provide you with all the necessities that you would need in the event of an emergency. You can choose from kits that have all the vital equipment you need, to more basic kits that are ideal for everyday use.

During winter there is an increased risk from flooding which, if not promptly and properly controlled, can cause significant and costly damages to your business or home. At Seton, we stock a full range of flood control equipment to help you prepare for flood events.

FAQs

How should de-icing rock salt and grit be stored?

Investing in a grit bin will protect your de-icing materials from the elements. Storing them correctly is essential as the products will become less effective when unsheltered - it is always best to use dry salt to ensure maximum performance. Our grit bins will allow you to store a large amount of materials. This will enable you to be prepared for any situation, no matter how big or small.

How do I prepare for extreme weather conditions?

Preparing for adverse weather conditions such as ice, snow and floods will prevent you from being caught out. Monitoring weather conditions on a regular basis will allow you to take action. If wintry conditions are forecast in your area, you can use our products such as rock salt, snow shovels and winter kits to help reduce slips, trips and falls. However, if flood warnings are issued you can use our flood prevention barriers and sandbags around the entrance of your property to reduce any potential damage.