All posts by Bill Coyne

Winter is just around the corner, and with it comes a whole host of hazards that can pose a threat to the safety of your employees. As a responsible employer, it is crucial to start planning now to ensure the well-being of your staff and maintain a strong safety record for your company. One important aspect to consider when preparing for winter is providing your employees with the necessary equipment to prevent slips and falls on ice and snow. Industrial ice cleats and other winter traction aids can be incredibly effective in reducing the risk of accidents. However, before making a purchase, i[…]

Winter brings beautiful snow-covered landscapes, but it also introduces hazards, especially for outdoor workers. Slippery conditions caused by ice and snow are a major contributor to workplace injuries during the colder months. One simple yet effective measure for preventing slips and falls is to equip employees with ice cleats before the winter season begins. By proactively providing ice cleats, you can reduce accidents, maintain productivity, and safeguard your employees' health. Here's why timely provision of ice cleats is crucial and how it can make a significant difference to workplace sa[…]

When it comes to ice cleats, there are typically two prevailing perspectives. Some people view ice cleats as a last-ditch effort, only wearing them when absolutely necessary. On the other hand, there are those who see ice cleats as an integral part of workplace safety gear. Consider this: why do your employees use the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) they have today? In most cases, companies require certain PPE items as a condition of employment. Safety glasses, hard hats, steel-toe boots, high-visibility clothing, and fire-retardant apparel are all mandatory in many workplaces. Why? It's b[…]

Winter slips and falls on snow and ice can be a major concern for companies of all sizes. While large companies tend to prioritize safety and continually learn and evolve their policies, smaller companies may implement a safety program and then shift their focus elsewhere. However, this can be a costly mistake. I once had a conversation with a senior executive who experienced several high-cost incidents at his company due to slips and falls on snow and ice during a winter storm. Upon investigating the accidents, it became clear that the employees who slipped and fell were not wearing ice cleat[…]

During a conversation with a safety director from a renowned multinational corporation, he shared with me the challenges they faced with slip and fall accidents caused by icy and snowy conditions. Determined to find a solution, they delved into extensive research, testing, and thorough analysis. Ultimately, they made the decision to invest in ice cleats that they believed were the best available at that time. (Just to clarify, these were not the ice cleats produced by my company.)

When it comes to ice cleats, most are NOT safe to wear indoors. Traditional ice cleats are engineered for one thing – preventing slip and fall incidents on ice. Since Ice and snow don’t exist indoors, manufacturers don’t concentrate on indoor flooring materials when developing ice cleats to prevent slips and falls. This can severely complicate a company’s goal of reducing slip and fall incidents because, if traditional ice cleats are worn indoors, your employees are now at a high risk of causing a slip hazard. In other words, remember the OUTDOOR slipping incident you may avoid because ice cle[…]