Preventing slips, trips, and falls

Ice and compacted snow can create extremely slippery surfaces in the winter months. Using Rock salt (usually sodium chloride) or alternative de-icing agents on relevant surfaces works by lowering the freezing point of water, helping melt ice and preventing re-freezing. Leading to safer walkways, commercial yards and relevant workplace environments.

Benefits:

• Reduces risk of employee injuries
• Minimises incidents involving customers, contractors, or visitors
• Helps employers meet health & safety obligations

Legal and safety compliance

An number of safety regulators for example HSE require employers to maintain safe access and walkways, to protect and safe guard against potential workplace injuries resulting from hazards namely, and snow in the winter months.

Using salt supports:

• Duty of care
• Risk assessment and hazard control measures
• Compliance with winter safety policies and procedures

Keeps business operations running smoothly

The buildup of ice can potentially disrupt the flow of work and procedures for organisations in many ways, for example;

• Employees struggle to enter or move around the site
• Delivery vehicles can’t access loading bays
• Forklifts and plant equipment lose traction
• Car parks become unsafe
• Emergency exits and fire routes can be blocked by ice

Salt helps keep all these critical areas operational.

Common areas where salt should be used

• Building entrances
• Car parks
• Pedestrian walkways
• Loading bays
• Steps and ramps
• Emergency exits
• Areas prone to standing water / shade (freeze faster)
• Sloped areas

Best practices

• Apply rock salt before ice forms when possible (pre-treatment).
• Reapply during severe or prolonged weather.
• Use grit bins and keep them stocked.
• Train staff on how and when to salt.
• Combine salt with snow clearing for best results.