UK winters don’t always bring snow and northern lights, but they almost always create icy roads and surfaces that make the country much more dangerous – especially for older people.

Across the UK, drivers are 15% more likely to have an accident during the winter months than in summer – and that’s not the only danger of the cold.

The NHS consistently warns the public about increased slips and falls in the winter months, and for good reason. 

But what can we do to help prevent slips and falls? 

There are three areas to tackle in order to best prevent slips and falls. First, you must understand the overall importance of winter safety. With this established, we will outline the most common causes of slips and falls in winter to look out for, and give you the practical tips and guidance you need to prevent them.

Understanding the Importance of Winter Safety

Winter safety isn’t just about avoiding minor cuts and bruises – it can mean the difference between life and death. 

Every year in the UK there are thousands of excess deaths (compared to the yearly average) during the winter months, ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 depending on the year.

While not all of these are from slips and falls, many are directly related to icier and slippier surfaces, with roughly 20,000 workers in the US missing a day of work due to ice-related fall and slip injuries in 2016.

The danger of winter can be fatal, especially for the elderly, but even for the young and healthy, it can massively damage both health and productivity, keeping people away from work and causing long-lasting injuries.

Common Causes of Slips and Falls in Winter

The first step to preventing these slips and falls in winter is understanding their root causes, and unsurprisingly, the culprits at the top of the list are ice and snow. 

These are common in all UK winters (especially ice), and create slippery surfaces that reduce traction for everything from shoes and boots to the wheels of a car. Even worse, the phenomenon of black ice – a layer of ice that is almost invisible – makes this even harder to spot.

And it doesn’t stop outside.

When people walk into buildings, they often drag snow and water on their shoes, creating hazardous conditions indoors, especially in doorways, entrances, and lobbies.

All of this is made worse by low lighting that is the hallmark of winter as the days get shorter, making it difficult to spot slippery surfaces, black ice or not. Many people also don’t change their footwear for winter conditions, meaning smooth summer trainers can become an unwitting accomplice to slippery conditions.

Practical Tips to Prevent Slips and Falls

Luckily, there are quite a few ways you can help yourself and others avoid slips and falls during winter, from clearing out snow and ice to keeping yourself stable as you walk around.

Prevention is key, which is why using ice melt and grit to clear ice and snow from roads, walkways, and other surfaces is an important part of winter safety. For large areas such as car parks and industrial areas, it’s often a good idea to employ a winter maintenance provider such as Accugrit.

On the personal side, make sure to update your footwear and choose sturdy shoes or boots with solid grip and large tread patterns to make sure you can effectively traverse snow and ice without slipping easily.

If you really want to be on the safe side, you can add removable ice cleats or crampons to gain extra traction. 

It’s also important you make use of handrails whenever needed, and always take shorter, slower steps when walking on icy surfaces.

Safety Measures for Homes

In your personal life, make sure to clear your driveways and walkways regularly, paying special attention to any steps or sloped areas.

You can also install non-slip mats at entrances to your home, reducing the amount of snow and water tracked indoors, while inside your house it is important to quickly clear up any water or slush that appears at entrances.

Safety Tips for Businesses

When you own or run a business, it’s not just your safety you need to worry about: you are responsible for the safety of all your employees, and any customers that step onto your premises.

This makes maintaining good winter safety a top priority for any business, and this starts with comprehensive winter safety training for all employees, including awareness programs, regular reminders, and refresher courses.

With your workforce educated and prepared, you also need to ensure there is clear and visible signage warning of any potential slip hazards across your business premises.

Make sure also to provide appropriate equipment such as correct footwear, shovels, gloves, coats, or ice melt products for any employees whose role require them to be in hazardous areas during winter.

Even with all this in place, you must also conduct regular inspections and maintenance.

Create a schedule to clear walkways, car parks and any other key areas, and keep detailed reports and records of what has been cleared, when, and by who.

What to Do If a Slip or Fall Occurs

If a slip or fall does occur, don’t rush to get up. Catch your breath, settle your mind, and assess your injuries before moving to avoid further accidents.

If the injury is minor, slowly and carefully get up and begin applying first aid – applying ice can reduce swelling and small plasters can cover cuts, but any significant pain, dizziness or drowsiness should result in seeking immediate medical attention.

For liability purposes and to improve the area, make sure to record the incident as soon as possible.

Take photos of where the fall happened, not hazardous conditions, and report the accident to the relevant property owner or manager.

Conclusion

From icy roads to snowed-under car parks, winter can be dangerous. But it doesn’t have to be. By taking precautions, wearing the right footwear, and keeping surfaces clear, we can all make winter a little less dangerous for ourselves and others around us.

Get in touch with AccuGrit to see how we can help keep you safe during the winter.