Effective Strategies To Keep Your Workforce Safe During Winter Weather
Winter is often associated with warm blankets and hot drinks, but it can also bring dangerous conditions for workers, such as ice on walkways or snow-covered ground. Luckily, you can be ready for those situations by knowing the relation between workers’ compensation claims and winter weather.
Winter weather can significantly increase workplace hazards, leading to a spike in workers’ compensation claims. Understanding how seasonal factors, particularly harsh winter conditions, impact workplace injuries is essential to get a fair outcome when necessary.
In this article, we will explore exactly how winter weather influences workers’ compensation claims, the broader implications for businesses, and practical strategies to keep your workforce safe and claims to a minimum.
What Are Workers’ Compensation Claims?
A workers’ compensation claim is filed by an employee seeking benefits for injuries or illness caused by their job. This claim helps cover medical bills, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs, ensuring the employee obtains proper care and financial support during recovery.
Some common reasons for it include:
- Slips, trips, and falls: Often due to wet floors, icy sidewalks, or cluttered work areas.
- Overexertion: Injuries from lifting heavy objects, repetitive movements, or physical strain.
- Being struck by objects: Items falling from shelves, machinery accidents, or collisions.
- Exposure to harmful conditions: Working in extreme temperatures, handling toxic materials, or noisy environments.
- Vehicle accidents: Injuries from driving or operating vehicles for work-related tasks.
Common Winter Weather Hazards In The Workplace & Their Impact on Workers’ Comp
Many of the common winter workers’ compensation claims fall into one of the following categories:
Slips, Trips & Falls Due To Ice & Humidity
According to the National Safety Council, slips and falls make up around 25% of all workplace injuries. Snow and ice significantly increase the chances of these accidents, especially on walkways, parking lots, stairs, sidewalks, and roads.
Cold-Stress Injuries
OSHA explains cold stress as injuries or illnesses caused by prolonged exposure to cold conditions. It happens when the body can no longer maintain a safe internal temperature, leading to serious health risks like frostbite, hypothermia, or trench foot. Factors like cold temperatures, wind, dampness, and wet conditions raise the likelihood of these injuries.
Winter Driving Hazards
Harsh winter weather can create dangerous driving conditions, leading to a higher rate of vehicle-related workers’ compensation claims.
Snow Shoveling & Snow Removal Hazards
OSHA notes that removing snow and ice can cause muscle strains, sprains, dehydration, equipment-related injuries, and even heart attacks.
Winter injuries at work affect both employee health and business productivity, leading to higher insurance costs and increased absences.
To avoid these injuries and hazards, it’s essential to practice proper prevention methods, which we’ll discuss below.
Effective Strategies To Prevent Winter-Related Workers’ Compensation Claims
Fortunately, employers can easily reduce winter hazards by implementing a few effective safety strategies, including:
- Proactive winter safety measures: Offer training sessions on recognizing winter hazards. Teach them to recognize dangerous situations and remind them to clean snow and ice whenever possible. You can also hire professionals to perform special tasks like snow cleaning from specific areas (sidewalks, outdoor workspaces, etc.) Establish clear guidelines on how quickly these areas should be cleared following snowfall or freezing conditions.
- Focus on proper clothing and gear: Recommend your workers to dress appropriately for cold conditions, layering their clothing, and wearing insulated footwear with strong traction. You can also give them necessary protective gear like gloves, hats, reflective jackets, and warm clothing, especially if you have employees working outdoors or in cold environments.
- Set clear policies: You should also set clear policies regarding driving in winter conditions, including guidelines on speed, vehicle maintenance, and emergency procedures. Also, regularly inspect company vehicles by ensuring proper tires, brakes, wipers, and defrost systems are in good working condition.
- Track the weather: Keep track of weather forecasts and issue timely alerts to employees about approaching storms or severe cold snaps.
- Don’t forget the break time: Ensure workers take regular breaks indoors to warm up, stay hydrated, and avoid fatigue. Educate employees about early signs of frostbite, hypothermia, or exhaustion, and encourage them to immediately report any symptoms.
Protect Your Business This Winter: Workers’ Compensation Insights From PJO Insurance
By understanding these risks and implementing effective preventive measures, you can protect your employees and business from unnecessary costs, downtime, and safety issues.
Accidents can still happen, so having the right insurance is crucial to protecting your business from winter-related claims. At PJO Insurance Brokerage, our expert brokers specialize in comprehensive workers’ compensation. We help you proactively manage risks, minimize liabilities, and secure peace of mind throughout the harshest winter months.
Ready to protect your business this winter? Contact us at PJO Insurance Brokerage Arizona today!
PJO INSURANCE BROKERAGE
Email: patrick@pjobrokerage.com
Website: www.pjobrokerage.com
Arizona Location
4103 East Prickly Pear Trail
Phoenix, Arizona 85050
Office: 480-680-9951
California Location
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Laguna Woods, California 92637
Office: 949-264-0889
Nevada Location
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Las Vegas, Nevada 89183
Office: 702-747-5403