What are the risks and what should you be assessing as an employer?
If your business requires your employees to drive vehicles during the winter months, it’s extremely important to update your risk assessment. With longer periods of darkness, unpredictable weather, ice and, snow; winter driving can present an array of hazards. Get prepared and start to assess the risks. Risks to consider:
- Do you have new drivers who are not experienced in driving in adverse weather conditions?
- Are your drivers at risk of being dazzled by strong sunlight?
- Are your vehicles prepared for icy/snow weather conditions?
- Are your vehicles at risk of overturning in stormy weather?
- Are your onsite car parks/roads in good condition?
- Are your onsite car park/roads safe for workers during snow/icy weather conditions?
- Will your workers have strong visibility when unloading during darker months?
- Is there a plan in place for employees in the event of emergencies such as a collision, breakdown, or getting stuck/stranded in snow?
Consider what transport activities happen at your workplace, and assess the potential dangers and what might be causing them. The key transport hazards to look out for are features of your workplace (such as how routes are laid out and whether they are in good condition); the vehicles themselves; and the actions of the drivers and others who are near to vehicles.
What actions can you take to prevent winter driving hazards?
Once you have assessed potential hazards and who they may impact, it’s time to make a plan of how you will implement preventative actions. Here are some actions to consider implementing:
- Have all your vehicles been serviced? Before it gets too cold, take your vehicles to a garage to have the battery, tyre treads and wiper blades inspected.
- Equip each vehicle with a winter emergency kit. In case your drivers get stranded, they need to have an emergency kit on hand.
- Provide your drivers with winter driving training. Driving in winter weather requires your drivers to adjust certain rules of the road including reducing their speed, doubling the standard following distance and keeping their headlights turned on—even during the day.
- Ensure strong flood lighting is installed in unloading areas to increase visibility during dark hours.
- Ensure car parks, unloading bays and any onsite roads are covered with grit/salt and are regularly cleared when snowing.
- Create clear guidance for employees regarding what to do in the event of emergencies such as a collision, breakdown, or getting stuck/stranded in the snow.
Contact Browns Safety Services today for a FREE consultation to help you assess your business risks. Get an independent assessment of the risk your business is currently retaining with a FREE 1 hour on-site or remote consultation. Get in touch today to find out more!