All posts by Jordan Bell

It may seem odd that there are no standards for ice cleats and traction aids, especially when there are regulations for other types of PPE. However, the reason for this is that creating anti-slip regulations for ice and snow is extremely challenging. There are simply too many variables to consider when it comes to creating traction on these surfaces. For example, not all icy or snowy surfaces are the same, and there are different types of fall risk factors to consider, such as pure ice, intermittent ice, black ice, snow on top of ice, ice on top of snow, inclines, and declines. All of these fa[…]

The issue of workers having to constantly put on and take off their ice cleats throughout the day is not only a hassle, but it can also be a safety concern. In industries where employees need to frequently go outside, such as construction or delivery, the constant removal and reapplication of ice cleats can lead to complacency and an increased risk of slips and falls. Additionally, while ice cleats are designed to improve traction on snow and ice, most workers do not exclusively work on these surfaces. This means that ice cleats may not be effective on other slippery surfaces such as wet floor[…]

How long should an ice cleat last? This is the most common question I get from safety professionals. It’s a fair question to ask and one you should have an understanding of before you purchase ice cleats. And when someone asks me that question, what I’m hearing is, “How many of these things am I going to buy to get through the winter?” Some ice cleats for shoes are built for recreational purposes, like walking the dog and shoveling the driveway, while others are built for utility workers, letter carriers and construction workers. If you use the wrong ice cleat for the wrong job task, you will […]

From time to time, we like to revisit some of our most popular blog entries. If safety professionals are looking for specific information, we’re always happy to provide it. And one of our most popular topics focused on the lack of regulations when it comes to ice cleats. In my original article, “Why Are There No Regulations Around Ice Cleats?” I wrote that the main reason for a lack of industry standards or regulations around ice cleats is the number of variables in recreating an outdoor slippery surface. But I don’t think that my post was popular because people wanted to hear why these regula[…]

It’s a question we’ve heard more than a few times. How do we answer it? Look at it this way: If you typed the phrase “ice cleats” into Google back in 2010, the search engine would give back around 418,000 results. Trust us on this number: it’s our job to run that specific search. Try the same search today, and you’ll get back more than 10 million results. What does this number tell us?

As a safety professional, I have a crucial question for you: What is your biggest safety sin or workplace hazard? Before I reveal mine, let me provide some context. Winter Walking is the largest manufacturer of ice cleats in North America. We take immense pride in helping hundreds of companies and thousands of employees reduce the risk of slip and fall injuries while on the job. But imagine the embarrassment and devastation if I were to personally experience a slip and fall injury on ice or snow. That would undoubtedly be my biggest work-related sin.