05 Feb Ice-Melting Supplies Can Prevent Slips and Falls

Source: https://www.accidentfund.com

Providing safe walking surfaces for your employees is a must — especially when winter weather hits. By using ice melter on sidewalks, parking lots and other frequently traveled areas, you will be protecting your employees from slip and fall accidents when at work, even on the nastiest days winter has in store.

Be sure you always have ice melter on-hand and store it in an easily accessible area so you can access it whenever the need arises. Remember, ice-melting products are far cheaper than insurance claims and other costs associated with winter weather slips and falls.

When choosing an ice-melting product for your company, keep in mind that it needs to be safe for people and animals that may come into contact with it. Also, be sure to use quality products that won’t damage concrete or landscaping.

Below are some things to keep in mind:

• Falls are a huge liability for business owners. Many regulatory bodies have legislation that requires a business to take some action to prevent slips and falls. By doing nothing, business owners open themselves up to legal action.
• Less is usually more when it comes to ice melters. Overusing the product can lead to it being unnecessarily tracked into the facility, and can burn the vegetation near where the product is used.
• Following directions for ice melters is important for determining quantity and to ensure proper personal protective equipment is being used during application.
• How quickly de-icers work varies depending on the materials the product is made from. It’s important to use products that melt at the temperatures that generally occur in your region.
• Tracked-in ice melter is unattractive and can damage floors and other surfaces. The best way to prevent ice melt from being tracked into the building is by using track mats both inside and outside your entrances, and to clean them up with a mop or vacuum throughout the day.