Why Grit
HSE Guidance Notes (Leaftet; INDG 225 rev 1).
How do I stop slip accidents happening in icy conditions?
Slip and trip accidents increase during the Winter season when cold weather spells cause ice and snow to build up on paths. There are effective actions that you can take to reduce the risk of a slip or trip. Regardless of the size of your site, always ensure that regularly used areas are promptly tackled.
Ice, frost and snow.
To reduce the risk of slips on ice, frost or snow, you need to assess the risk and put in a system to manage it.
- Identify the outdoor areas used by pedestrians most likely to be affected by ice, for example: – building entrances, car parks, pedestrian walkways.
2. Monitor the temperature, as prevention is key.
3. Put a procedure in place to prevent an icy surface forming and/or keep Pedestrians off the slippery surface. Use Grit or similar on areas prone to be slippery in frosty and icy conditions.
4. Act early in the morning before employees/customers arrive. Salt doesn’t work instantly, it needs sufficient time to dissolve into the moisture on the ground.
5. Be aware that ‘dawn frost’ can occur on dry surfaces, when early morning dew forms and freezes on impact with a cold surface. It can be difficult to predict when or where this condition will occur.