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News release

14 December 2009 NR71/09

Be prepared, not panicked, for winter weather

Health and safety experts are warning people to be prepared for poor weather conditions when travelling, and not leave things to chance.

With the Met Office predicting snow later this week for most parts of the country, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), Europe’s largest professional health and safety body, has produced a few tips to help ensure your travel, whether it be commuting to or from work or for pleasure, remains safe despite the weather.

Driving in severe winter conditions or commuting to work will involve increased risk. Decide first of all if your car journey is really necessary, particularly with technology offering working from home as a solution, or use public transport as an alternative to driving.
If you are going to drive in poor winter conditions make sure the vehicle is well maintained. Ensure you have topped up the windscreen wash and that there is enough screen wash liquid to prevent it freezing. Check tyre pressures, oil, coolant and antifreeze levels and top-up if necessary.
Think about items it might be useful to have in the car in case of an emergency: a shovel, blanket, some water and food, boots, torch, de-icer and scraper, a couple of old newspapers (to help prevent tyres spinning), hi-vis jacket, mobile phone and map or sat nav to plan an alternative route.
If the journey is essential, inform someone where you are going and what time you expect to arrive.
It may be better to postpone an early morning journey a short time until the roads have been gritted or dawn has broken.
Listen to news and weather reports on the radio prior to and during the journey.
While driving be aware of your surroundings so you can report your position should you become stranded.
Drive to the road conditions.
In the event of being stranded stay in the vehicle and keep the engine running – unless stuck in deep snow where there is a risk of build up of carbon monoxide from exhaust fumes. Use a mobile phone to let someone know where you are stranded.
Make your vehicle as visible as possible to emergency services. You can do this by using lights or tying a brightly coloured scarf to the aerial.

For businesses and other organisations, the wintry weather brings with it additional hazards to premises that must be managed. Slips and trips are the most common cause of winter work hazards, accounting for over a third of major injuries at work and over a quarter of all injuries requiring three or more days off work. In 2008-09 this involved 10,368 major injuries and 23,797 injuries needing three days or more off work.[1]

All employers and businesses need to make sure that frequently used access paths which get covered with frost or snow are cleared, gritted or salted to help prevent people slipping. However, there is no need to clear an entire area of snow if the public or employees are unlikely to walk on it.

[1] HSE slips and trips reporting

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Notes for editors:

IOSH is the Chartered body for health and safety professionals. With more than 35,000 members in 85 countries, we’re the world’s biggest professional health and safety organisation.

We set standards, and support, develop and connect our members with resources, guidance, events and training. We’re the voice of the profession, and campaign on issues that affect millions of working people.

IOSH was founded in 1945 and is a registered charity with international NGO status.