Worksafe NB November Newsletter
To help avoid injury when walking on ice and snow, WorkSafeNB offers these tips:
- Walk slowly and deliberately, focused on the path ahead.
- Where possible, avoid slippery surfaces, such as wet leaves, icy areas and snow banks.
- Wear appropriate footwear with slip-resistant soles to work, and change into indoor footwear. Ice grippers that attach to your footwear can provide additional traction.
- Use handrails where available.
- Check to make sure entrance areas and stairs are clear of snow and slush. Tracked in snow and slush often causes slips and falls.
- Clean your shoes when you go inside. Caked snow and ice on shoe soles can be treacherous.
- At work, report all slips, trips and fall hazards and incidents.
Shovel Smart
A fresh new snowfall may be welcomed by children, but it also poses certain risks for those shovelling. A shovel full of snow weighs about five kilograms. If you move a shovel load every five seconds, you move 70 kg in one minute. Repeat for 15 minutes and you have shovelled 1,000 kg of snow.
Shovelling snow in extreme cold increases your risk of heart attack. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, mortality rates are 10% higher during winter than in warmer months. The risk is even greater if you’re inactive or living with heart disease.
- Be prepared - wear appropriate clothing and personal protective equipment. Do some warm-ups before you start shovelling to loosen up your muscles and joints.
- Choose a proper shovel - a snow shovel should be lightweight, about 1.5 kg or a little over three pounds. The blade shouldn’t be too large – otherwise your load will be too heavy. Look for one with a long handle so you don’t have to stoop over to shovel, and a grip made of plastic or wood.
- Shovel properly - shovel at a steady pace. Don’t rush it, take frequent short breaks and sip water to stay hydrated. As much as possible, push the snow rather than lift it.