Now, when the word "winter" is mentioned, safety professionals immediately feel a shift in the atmosphere. They know that their job has become even more challenging - finding the most effective and safest ways to protect their employees who work in icy and snowy conditions. So let me ask you a few questions: Are you tired of endlessly searching online, attempting to determine which ice cleat or traction aid is the best option? Are you frustrated with purchasing a recommended traction aid, only to discover that your employees despise wearing them?

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[…]

The thing about winter is, despite forecasts, you just never can know when a strong weather system will move across the country. But there are several things I do know for sure... First, I know that if the country gets any significant snow or ice, it means that normally clean walking surfaces will become slippery and, as a result, slips and falls will increase. Guaranteed.

If you’re willing to pay a high premium for shipping overnight, you can get just about anything you want, when you want it. Now is the time of year when “just ship it overnight” quickly becomes the most often heard statement I hear. Of course you can have ice cleats or traction aids shipped overnight, right? Well, the answer is both yes and no. In some cases, your order will be delivered on time and it won’t reflect any delayed decision-making. However, what happens to your employees and your safety record when after paying for shipping overnight, the delivery fails to be delivered the next da[…]

Let me share an interesting anecdote from one of my many, reluctant visits to Costco. It was my day off, and I found myself strolling through the colossal store with a concise shopping list in hand. As I loaded my cart with an astonishing 1,000 paper plates, something caught my eye and brought me to a halt. It was a captivating display of ice cleats.