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[…]

The process of buying ice cleats is a lot like the search for any new product. Sometimes it’s smooth sailing, and other times you run into frustration and confusion, and end up spending a lot more time than you’d like to find the ice cleats you need. And it’s a situation where you need to take your time to make sure you’ve found the best and safest traction solution for your employees working outdoors in cold, slippery conditions. In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the questions you should ask yourself when shopping for ice cleats to take some of the stress out of the process and keep yo[…]

Who doesn't love winter? With the snow falling gently from the sky, it transforms the world into a picturesque wonderland. It's a time when families come together, hot cocoa is sipped by the fireplace, and memories are made. However, not everyone shares the same sentiment when it comes to winter. For safety professionals, the arrival of winter brings with it a sense of apprehension and concern. As the temperature drops and the ground becomes covered in a blanket of snow and ice, slips and falls become a common occurrence. This is especially worrisome for safety professionals whose main priorit[…]

I’ve found that there are two ways people tend to look at ice cleats. Ice cleats are a last resort. Ice cleats are part of the workplace safety gear solution. Let me ask you a question: Why are your employees using the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) they have today? Chances are, your company has a lot of PPE that are mandatory, not voluntary, as a condition of employment. What about safety glasses, hard hats, steel-toe boots, high-visibility clothing, fire-retardant apparel? You get my point. These items are mandatory at most workplaces, including yours. Why? Because your employees experi[…]

Have you ever asked your employees for their feedback on the traction aids and ice cleats that you buy for them? If you have never done this, you are missing out on some very important information. This is one of the most critical and most often forgotten ways to increase employee buy-in. You will learn what is working well – and what is not – with the current ice cleats you provide to reduce winter slips and falls. Additionally, you will be building morale and reinforcing the notion that you care about employee safety.

I know a safety coordinator at a large Canadian company. The conversation I had with him one winter stuck with me. When we spoke, he was in no mood to discuss the use of an ice cleat or other winter traction aids. He admitted that he was sick of winter, in general, and sick of hearing about ice cleats, in particular. He was tired of having to “deal” with them all the time. Does this sound familiar to you? Here’s the interesting thing about what I do for a living: If you choose to ignore the problem of winter slip and falls on ice and snow, you’re in luck because eventually the weather will cha[…]