Health and safety measures in the workplace are largely affected by the changing of the seasons. Dark nights and icy mornings can lead to an increase in workplace accidents such as slips and trips in the winter months. Higher temperatures and the rise in pollen levels in the summer can make for a dehydrated workforce and employees suffering from allergies.
Personal Injury specialists TRUE Solicitors have come up with a list of the health and safety risks that are likely to arise from the different seasons, and which best practices can be implemented to help mitigate the chance of accidents happening.
Autumn and Winter Health and Safety Hazards
It is important for businesses to reassess their health and safety procedures during the autumn and winter months. Hazardous weather conditions leading to icy pavements and fallen wet leaves are the main culprit for causing slips and trips in and around the workplace.
A great deal of accidents can be completely avoidable as long as the right prevention methods are in place. Follow our health and safety tips below to help keep your staff safe this autumn and winter:
Clear pavements of wet leaves
Piles of fallen wet leaves are a common problem during the autumn months, creating slip hazards and hiding other potential risks underneath. Ensure that pathways into the workplace are cleared of leaves to reduce the chance of staff slipping or falling.
Grit icy paths
Avoid the threat of employees slipping on icy paths or stairs by gritting the entrances to buildings, pathways and carparks. It is strongly advised to regularly monitor the weather forecast and grit areas the night before staff arrive into work the next day.
Ensure external areas are well lit.
Dark nights and mornings mean there is reduced visibility for employees as they walk, drive or cycle into work. Make sure that car parks, walkways and bike racks are well lit, to help eliminate the risks of staff falling or tripping due to poor lighting.
Wear reflective clothing
If staff are cycling or walking to and from work it is also a good idea to advise that they wear reflective and high visibility clothing, especially if their route involves isolated or wooded areas. Encourage employees to ‘buddy-up’ to avoid walking or cycling to work alone if possible.
Remind employees of the danger of winter driving hazards
It is advisable that employers have a winter driving policy in place for their employees who drive for work purposes. RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) have a comprehensive guide to winter driving, which can be downloaded and distributed to staff. In extreme weather conditions such as prolonged periods of snow and flooding, it is recommended to avoid driving altogether. Employees should permit working from home in these instances, should the nature of the business permit it.
Remind staff to complete the following checks on their vehicle before winter starts:
· Brakes are in full working order
· Battery is fully charged
· Lights are clean and working
· Tyres are in good condition- tread depth and pressure (including the spare tyre)
· Fluids such as the oil, anti-freeze and windscreen wash are kept topped up
· All windows and wiper blades are cleaned and the washer bottle is filled with screen wash
Encourage staff to remain fit and healthy
It is important to encourage staff to remain fit and healthy throughout the winter months. Certain illnesses can be made worse in the colder weather and the lack of sunlight can lead to Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) effecting many employees. It is important to ensure staff drink plenty fluids, regularly wash their hands, keep warm and take regular breaks throughout the day, ideally outside in the sunshine.
Spring and Summer Health and Safety Hazards
Longer hours of daylight during the spring and summer months is often a welcomed treat by employees. There are however still health and safety hazards which employers need to assess during these seasons to ensure the wellbeing of their teams.
Follow our guide to maintaining health and safety standards during the spring and summer months:
Health and Safety policy: Inform and remind
Spring is a great time to inform and remind staff of your organisations Health and Safety policies. Make staff aware of any new policy updates and advise them of best practices and their responsibilities for conducting themselves and handling equipment safely at work. This can be communicated to staff via email, posted on internal company intranet systems, on staff noticeboards or through printed handouts.
Ensure air conditioning systems are working properly
An overheated workplace can lead to a lethargic and ill workforce. In preparation for the hotter summer months it is therefore essential to check that the air conditioning system is working properly. Make sure that filters are cleared of dust to ensure that air is circulated and that the system doesn’t overheat.
Avoid dehydration
It is important to avoid staff becoming dehydrated whilst at work at any time of the year, but even more so in summer. Dehydration can lead to lack of focus and increased fatigue, which could cause an accident at work. Ensure that staff have access to drinking water through water stations or a running tap on the premises where they are working.
If employees are required to work outdoors or in areas where there is no access to clean, safe drinking water, they should have bottled water accessible to drink with them at all times.
It is recommended that adults drink 2 litres, or 8 glasses of water per day. Other factors such as your weight and the strenuous level of your job will also effect the amount of water that’s needed to be consumed to avoid dehydration.
Slap on the sunscreen
For employees whose job involves outdoor working, ensure that they have access to sun protection, a sun hat and sunglasses. This will help to eliminate the chance of sunburn or heat stroke.
Staff working outdoors in areas such as building sites, who need to wear protective clothing, it is important that they don’t overheat. It is advisable to wear breathable, long sleeves to cover skin from sunburn and to keep cool.
Insect Stings and Bites
Insect stings and bites are more common during the summer months. Many people can suffer from an adverse reaction as a consequence of being bit or stung, with some even going into an anaphylactic shock. An epinephrine injection is used to treat severe allergic reactions, and must be administered extremely quickly at the point that someone is showing signs of an allergic reaction. Signs of a severe reaction include:
· Hives
· Trouble breathing
· Swelling of the lips, face and throat
If an epi pen isn’t used soon enough the potential consequences can be as serious as death. People who suffer from extreme allergic reactions will typically carry an epi pen with them at all times.
Hay Fever sufferers
Hay fever can make day to day life very hard for sufferers during the spring and summer. The increased amount of pollen in the air means that windows should be kept shut in the early morning and late afternoon in offices that have hay fever sufferers.
