Winter Ready Campaign
Developing and implementing a winter ready program presents a significant opportunity for injury prevention within Municipalities of all sizes for your valued field and office-based employees. This injury prevention campaign supports the Government of Alberta (GoA) OHS Prevention Initiative and Slip/Trip/Fall prevention which is 1 of the 3 most common injuries and illnesses that occur in Alberta workplaces.
AMHSA provides many free and interactive campaign materials for you to download and implement into your organization. With winter conditions in Alberta starting as early as October and continuing through to April, the campaign provides a schedule of activities that addresses various aspects including:
- Pre-Season Planning and Hazard Identification
- Site Planning and Preparation
- Snow removal, sanding and de-icing
- Equipment and Building Winterization
- Winter Driving
- Working in cold temperatures
The Best Practices for Managing the Winter Ready Campaign is a comprehensive resource document that covers these areas and more!
Learning Opportunities are also provided in the form of Live and On-demand webinars and downloadable PowerPoint presentations for Municipalities to access and support ongoing campaign activities and to learn more about campaign materials and resources.
Be Winter Ready and download your campaign materials and get started now! Need support? Click here.
Download Resources
Campaign Best Practice Guide
Leadership Alignment & Execution Plan
Campaign Supporting Visuals
Make your Case Template
Checklists & Worksheets
Pre-Planning Worksheet
Fresh Snow Checklist
Footwear Policy
Winter Ready Poster Set
Toolbox Talks:
Transition Areas
Walkways
Steps & Stairs
Exiting Light Vehicle
Journey Management
Working in the Cold
Worksite Preparation
On Demand Webinar
Contact Information
Email: safety@amhsa.net
Reach out using our Contact form!
Related Information
OHS Prevention Initiative – slips, trips and falls
Working Safely on Ice Covers in Alberta
Working on Ice: Field Guide
Working in Extreme Temperatures
Are you Winter Ready?
This On-Demand Webinar focuses on the case for implementing a Winter Ready campaign and resources available.
Develop Your Program
Leadership Alignment
Align leadership by providing background information, defining roles, and presenting an execution plan. Download and start your journey with this document.
Worker Participation
Equip yourself with information on winter preparedness, health and wellness, safe work planning, and winter driving precautions in this free downloadable presentation.
Hazard Hunt Activity
Participate in a Winter Ready Hazard Hunt! Identify potential hazards and improve your awareness of winter-related risks. Download now and get started!
High Hazard Areas to Focus on in your Program
The Winter Ready Campaign is divided into five engaging activities that can be spread throughout the winter months. Below are the activities, along with a brief description of each:
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Walkways
Indoors & Outdoors
Conditions in the winter season change everyday creating unpredictable hazardous environments. It is important to recognize when a walkway is unsafe to prevent a slip, trip or fall. Ensuring walkways are shoveled, de-iced, free of debris and well lit combined with personal precautions like assuming all wet surfaces are slippery, walking with short shuffle-like steps and using handrails can prevent a fall.
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Winter Work
Working & Travelling in Winter
Safety doesn’t end at the work site. Potential incidents can follow us to and from work, but are typically easily mitigated with a small amount of foresight and preparation.
Prepare yourself and your vehicle and make sure people know your plans.
Resource: Toolbox Talk: MSI-Cold Temperature Working in the Cold of Winter
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Steps, Stairs & Ladders
Changes in elevation are a major source of slips, trips and falls. Whether you are climbing or descending stairs, ladders or steps it is important to observe the area and understand and reduce the potential risks in front of you.
Resource: Toolbox Talk: Steps and Stairs
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Housekeeping
Organization & Work Area Lighting
Shorter days, ground cover and low visibility all contribute to slips, trips and falls in busy work places. Tools, equipment, and extension cords can all easily hide under a thin cover of snow, making it easy to trip even when lighting is good. Combine that with shorter days and reliance on artificial lighting makes for a much more dangerous work environment on the ground.
Resource: Winter Surveillance Report (Page 60)
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Spring Ready
Wildlife & Environment
Winter is finally coming to an end. We can sense the change in the air and so can nature. Animals are coming out of their winter slumber, ice and snow is melting and a new set of safety challenges are coming our way.