Injuries caused by a slip on the ice are ordinary events that will certainly never make the news. But they do make up a large percentage of injuries in the trucking industry. Don’t let a simple slip cause medical bills and weeks of lost work time. Be alert and follow these eight safety tips for walking on ice and snow:
- Stay focused. When walking on snow and ice, give it your full attention. Stay off your smart phone and don’t allow other distractions to make you fall.
- Walk deliberately with care. Plan the safest path. If the walkway is iced, you’re better off walking through the snow-covered grass on the side.
- Walk slowly. If you must walk on ice, use small steps and shuffle your feet. Bend your knees, point your toes slightly outward, and keep your weight directly over your feet.
- Don’t carry anything in your hands. Keep your hands free for balance and recovery should you slip. Also keep them out of your pockets.
- Don’t run or jump. Running saves little time and sets you up for a slip on something unexpected, such as black ice hidden under a thin coating of light snow. Never jump from vehicles or trailers.
- Beware of sloped surfaces. Avoid icy sloped surfaces. There is no technique for walking over a frictionless slope without sliding.
- Wear foot gear with good traction. Avoid leather or plastic soles. Rubber-like soles with a good tread pattern work best. You might try traction aids such as traction cleats. Cleats provide secure traction on sloped ice and when climbing on slippery surfaces.
- Watch your step when getting out of your commercial or owner operator truck. This is one of the most likely places where a fall will occur. Many truckers, unaware that the steps from their cab froze up during the drive, quickly bound down them out of habit. They quickly learn of their mistake the hard way. If your side mirror is iced, assume your steps are iced too.
For more information on safety, or if you require commercial or owner operator truck insurance in South Carolina, please contact us.
