Navigating the Deep Freeze: A Guide to Winter Weather

Underneath the beauty of a fresh snowfall often lies significant underlying hazards to personal safety, property integrity, and business continuity. Winter is more than just a seasonal shift; it is a complex risk environment that demands proactive identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring.

Adopting a formal risk management approach is crucial for transforming a potentially dangerous and disruptive season into a manageable operational challenge.

As the temperature drops and the snow falls, here are some of the areas where we can be impacted:

• Cold Stress and Falls: The most common injuries are related to slips on nearly invisible black ice and cold-related illnesses (hypothermia, frostbite), which can set in surprisingly quickly.

• Structural and Infrastructure Vulnerabilities: Heavy, wet snow places immense stress on roofs. Freezing temperatures turn still water in pipes into expanding ice, leading to costly bursts and extensive water damage.

• Business Interruption: Power outages from ice storms and impassable roads can halt operations, impact supply chains, and prevent employees from accessing facilities.

Here are some things you can do to keep and your property safe from the winter elements:

Personal Safety & Health

Safety begins with individual preparedness and common sense.

• Dress for the Elements: Always wear layered, loose-fitting clothing, insulated gloves, hats, and waterproof boots with substantial rubber treads.

• Master the "Penguin Shuffle": When crossing icy areas, walk flat-footed, take short steps, and keep your hands free to maintain balance.

• Shovel Smarter: Push snow rather than lifting it. If lifting is necessary, use your legs, not your back, and take frequent warm-up breaks to avoid overexertion and heart strain.

Property Protection

Safeguarding your physical assets ensures operational resilience.

• Maintain Indoor Heat: Keep thermostats set above 55°F (12°C) even when a building is unoccupied to prevent pipes from freezing.0

• Develop a Snow Management Plan: Establish clear protocols for the prompt removal of snow and ice from all entryways, sidewalks, and parking lots. Ensure all employees know where de-icing agents (salt/sand) are stored.

• Ensure Generator Safety: If using a portable generator during a power outage, always operate it outdoors in a well-ventilated area, away from windows and vents, to prevent fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.

  
  

Winter Driving

Travel during winter requires enhanced caution and preparation.

• Vehicle Readiness: Schedule a comprehensive check-up for all vehicles, focusing on the battery life, tire pressure and tread, brake fluid, and antifreeze levels.

• Equip Emergency Kits: Every personal and company vehicle should contain a winter emergency kit: blankets, flashlight, first-aid kit, jumper cables, shovel, road salt/sand, and a fully charged phone.

• Avoid Non-Essential Travel: The most effective mitigation strategy is avoidance. Encourage remote work policies when weather conditions are severe and unsafe.

Conclusion

Navigating the winter months safely requires some thought and preparedness. By identifying potential hazards and taking action to be proactive as opposed to reactive will go along way to protecting what’s important to you.  Lastly, don’t forget to think positive – Spring is around the corner!