Winter poses a risk of slips, trips, and falls at your facility, but what happens when spring arrives? Early spring conditions mean messy weather and fluctuating temperatures, causing ice and snow to melt and re-freeze dangerously. With this freeze-thaw cycle and the increased precipitation, safety plays a crucial role in your indoor and outdoor spring maintenance plan.
Studies show that slips and falls account for over one million emergency room visits per year, making up 12 per cent of the falls that happen – and 67 per cent of those falls are a result of slipping. A safety-first approach helps maintenance managers protect employees and visitors while protecting their business. “As the weather changes, ask yourself what you can do throughout your property to reduce the risks and keep people safe,” advises Jordan Bloomberg, president of No Skidding Products Inc.
Bloomberg recommends assessing your building inside and out weekly as a way to stay on top of all possible risks, increasing the frequency as weather dictates. Along with monitoring the conditions and hazards throughout your property, take a proactive approach with preventative maintenance to keep visitors and staff safe when they visit your facility.
Outside your building
There are several areas to pay attention to when looking for potential slip-and-fall sites on your property. When the snow melts and the ground is exposed, cracks and uneven surfaces created during the winter months in the parking lot, on walkways, and on sidewalks can be areas of concern. Identify these areas to be repaired when the weather permits and install signage to warn traffic of potential tripping hazards.
Also, the melting snow can add a significant amount of water to the lot, so if your drains are not working properly or are blocked, there is a risk of standing water that could re-freeze overnight. Assess your drains to confirm that they are clear and in working order throughout the season.
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While the weather is unpredictable and temperatures fluctuate in the early days of spring, keep your shovel and ice melter close by, as you may still need to address the occasional snowfall and slippery walkways.
Staying on top of outdoor areas that need attention, being vigilant with appropriate signage, and providing as much lighting as possible will help you keep these areas dry, safe, and maintained through the spring.
Inside your building
As rain mixes with snow, slushy slippery surfaces are created, getting tracked through the building and causing a slipping hazard on concrete, hardwood, and tile flooring. Pay special attention to the front entrance, as it is a high-traffic area with a constant flow of people bringing in the elements. Mitigate the risks with proper matting to keep the entrances dry and clean, and minimize the water and dirt travelling through your whole building. Maintain these mats, replacing them as soon as they begin to ripple, fray or curl, as tripping can become a danger.
For areas not matted, an anti-slip treatment might provide a solution for better grip and traction at the front door. In this case, a clear, odourless chemical treatment is applied to the floor for enhanced grip and traction. These treatments mean less maintenance, lasting up to 3 years, and help mitigate risks by increasing the coefficient of friction and slip resistance when the surface gets wet.
Stairs and stairwells pose a concern, as they can become out-of-sight, out-of-mind, staying wet and posing a risk to stair traffic. To keep these areas dry and safe, decide on the best course of action for your space. Consider whether adding a strip of safety tape would make it slip-resistant enough. Or, you may need to add an anti-slip coating with grip to create a high-profile surface. A more permanent solution might mean installing fibreglass stair treads or covers over your existing stairs, or on the nosing. For carpeted stairs, monitor the condition to ensure that any frayed, ripped, or loose carpet is repaired or replaced, free from wet areas, and clear of any obstacles.
Ramps or changes in elevation (inside or outside), including accessibility ramps, parking garages, loading docks, and more, can become a hazard as the elevation changes. “When evaluating these areas for risk assessment, consider the fact that these ramps are commonly being used by people with mobility issues, so they do require an extra degree of care,” says Bloomberg. Pay special attention to these areas, ensuring they remain in good condition, are maintained regularly, and stay obstacle-free.
Spring brings additional rainfall, freeze-thaw cycling, and uneven surfaces created during the winter, heightening the risk of slips, trips, and falls on your property. Perform regular assessments, choose solutions that work for your building, and keep heightened areas of concern at the forefront for a safety-first approach to maintenance this spring.
