{"id":7597,"date":"2025-09-29T15:26:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T22:26:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/safecarebc.ca\/?post_type=safetytopic&#038;p=7597"},"modified":"2025-10-02T09:18:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T16:18:54","slug":"winter-preparedness","status":"publish","type":"safetytopic","link":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/?safetytopic=winter-preparedness","title":{"rendered":"Winter preparedness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the colder months approach, it\u2019s important to prepare for the challenges that come with winter. Snowfall, icy conditions, heavy rain, and freezing temperatures can create hazards that increase the risk of incidents at work and in daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are some common winter hazards?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Slips, trips, and falls<\/strong> on icy or wet surfaces<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Winter driving risks<\/strong> due to poor road conditions and reduced visibility<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cold stress<\/strong>, including frostbite and hypothermia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)<\/strong> and its impact on mental health<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can you prepare for winter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Wear appropriate footwear<\/strong>: Choose water-resistant, insulated shoes with soles that provide good traction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Walk with care<\/strong>: Take short steps and move at a slower pace on snowy or icy surfaces.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Plan ahead<\/strong>: Check road conditions and weather alerts before heading out. Install winter tires, prepare an emergency kit, and make sure you have an emergency plan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Drive safely<\/strong>: Allow more time to reach your destination. Adjust your speed for weather and road conditions, and maintain a safe following distance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dress for the weather<\/strong>: Layer clothing and wear warm accessories like hats, mittens, boots, and thermal socks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stay warm<\/strong>: Drink hot liquids and take breaks indoors when needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Watch for signs of cold stress<\/strong>: Know the symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia so you can act quickly if needed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tips for employers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Suspend non-emergency work<\/strong> during hazardous weather conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Promote safe driving practices<\/strong> by sharing resources such as our <em><a href=\"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/resources\/checklists\/safe-driving-for-work-checklist\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/resources\/checklists\/safe-driving-for-work-checklist\/\">Safe Driving for Work checklist<\/a><\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Maintain safe walkways and work areas<\/strong>: De-ice sidewalks and parking lots, place absorbent mats at entrances, use wet floor signage, and add extra lighting in dim areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Provide clear guidelines<\/strong> on appropriate winter clothing and footwear.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Develop and communicate emergency plans<\/strong> for winter-related incidents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Educate workers<\/strong> about cold-related illnesses like hypothermia and frostbite.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Encourage reporting<\/strong> of hazards such as slippery surfaces.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Equip company vehicles<\/strong> with winter tires and emergency supplies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Support worker wellbeing<\/strong>: Acknowledge the impact of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and provide resources like wellness initiatives, adjusted hours, remote work options, or Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-1 is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"color:#000000;background-color:#52c8e7;padding-top:2em;padding-right:2em;padding-bottom:2em;padding-left:2em\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"font-size:25px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#50c8e8\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2\" style=\"font-size:25px\">Slips, Trips and Falls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-normal-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Online, self-paced<\/strong><br><strong>15 minutes<br>50% off in October 2025<\/strong> - use code Slips50&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">What you'll walk away with: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-normal-font-size\">\n<li>The most common causes of slips, trips, and falls in the workplace <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Simple, effective ways to prevent incidents before they happen <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Why take this course?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-normal-font-size\">\n<li>Prevent common injuries and learn how to avoid one of the top causes of workplace injury<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be proactive, Not reactive \u2013 Learn how small changes make a big impact <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Quick, practical training \u2013 Straightforward tips you can use right away <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background no-border-radius has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/training\/elearning\/slips-trips-and-falls\/\" style=\"background-color:#000000;font-size:18px\">Register \u203a<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Winter brings unique challenges. Learn how to stay safe and prepared with practical tips for both workers and employers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":7599,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","tags":[],"audience":[118],"topic-type":[65],"topic":[177],"class_list":["post-7597","safetytopic","type-safetytopic","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","audience-audience","topic-winter-safety"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/safetytopic\/7597","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/safetytopic"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/safetytopic"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7599"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7597"},{"taxonomy":"audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Faudience&post=7597"},{"taxonomy":"topic-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftopic-type&post=7597"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scbcdev.safecarebc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftopic&post=7597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}