Factors To Consider In Winter – #WinterWithSelectequip

Winter is here and Selectequip want to help you out. For the next 4 weeks we’re going to be sharing a series of blog posts that will inform you of the dangers that arise if you work outside during the winter months and also what equipment to use and measures you need to take in order to ensure you have a safe working winter. The series will be accompanied with the following hashtag #WinterWithSelectequip so keep an eye out for the coming posts.

For the first instalment we’ll share with you the basic issues to consider when winter comes around, including: lighting, visibility, wet/fallen leaves, rain water, frost/ice/snow.

Lighting

Winter is usually marked by the clocks going back, meaning that it could be getting dark as soon as 5pm and if you’re working outside at this time, you’re going to want to see what you’re doing; this isn’t just so you can carry out your job well but this is to stay safe by easily being able to see hazards in your working environment. Lighting is vital if you’re working throughout the night, if there are no lights in place then go straight to your employer and question this… it is for your own safety. We have a wide range of lighting products on the Selectequip Hub from leading brands including Night Searcher, see for yourself here.

Visibility

When working through the night, it’s important that you are seen just as well as you being able to see objects around you. If you’re not visible then you’re providing a hazard for someone else, risking their life as well as your own. Wearing the correct visibility equipment will prevent any unnecessary accidents in the workplace, ensuring a safe working environment for everyone. Selectequip stock a wide range of visibility products including Hi-Vis jackets and Viz360 which is the life saving technology, exclusive to Selectequip. See our entire catalogue of visibility products here.

Wet/Fallen Leaves

The transition from Autumn to Winter means that the leaves that have littered the ground now start to decay creating a hazard for everyone, not just those that work outside during the winter months. To prevent accidents, you should think about the footwear you decide to wear; choose shoes that give you good grip in order to prevent unnecessary falls that could ultimately lead to a serious injury. If you have the appropriate footwear then you will feel more confident in the job that you’re carrying out. See our wide range of footwear here.

Rain/Water

Rain presents a problem throughout the entire year but in the winter months it tends to become more of an issue, so make sure you’re ready for the harsh conditions that may arise. Like the above factor of wet/fallen leaves, you need the appropriate footwear to prevent slips and falls; within our catalogue of footwear we have a range of water resistant options. You also need to consider waterproof clothing, without this you could fall ill and it may contribute to you missing days off work. We stock a range of waterproof clothing on our Hub, from the industries leading brands.

Ice/Frost

When winter arrives, temperatures drop. Meaning you’ll have to face ice, frost and possibly snow on a daily basis. The first thing to consider is the fact that it will be extremely cold and the correct workwear is needed to ensure you stay warm and continue to carry out your job to the best of your capability. If you’re not staying warm then you could risk developing an illness or even being involved in a workplace incident; if your hands are cold, it could lead to you not being able to operate machinery well and there could be severe consequences as a result of that. Options to disperse grit in the workplace should also be considered, especially as roads/walkways will become icy and present a slip hazard for employees and visitors. Warning cones may also be necessary in order to ensure that hazards in the working environment are acknowledged and everyone can avoid them.

The #WinterWithSelectequip series continues next week where we’ll be focussing on working at night; we’ll share with you some product recommendations and give some tips on working in the dark… Stay tuned.