During the winter months, worsening weather conditions inevitably lead to storm, frost and burst pipes damage to businesses and increase the likelihood of injury to employees.
The damage is likely to come from three sources:
- Wind
- Frost and snow
- Burst pipes
Wind
In the UK we generally do not get the devastating hurricanes which regularly affect areas of the US, however many coastal areas can suffer storms, with winds gusting to over 100 miles an hour.
Protection and Preparation
- Keep track of weather forecasts.
- Periodically inspect roofs and flashing.
- Check vents, skylights, and signs to ensure they are secure.
- Check that windows, doors and their frames are securely fixed to the building.
- Inspect any trees that are close to your building.
- Ensure loads are secured during transit.
- Inspect all buildings after severe storm
Frost, snow and burst pipes
Freezing conditions regularly lead to flooding from burst pipes. In addition, snow melts combined with
fresh rain falls can overwhelm the drainage system and result in local flooding. In very extreme conditions heavy snowfalls can impose significant loads on roof structures although this is thankfully extremely rare in the UK. In addition to direct damage to property from the buildings, accidents and incidents are also more likely during periods of cold weather.
Protection and Preparation
- Plan for safe methods of snow removal. Check all heating units for reliable operation as winter approaches. See that building insulation is in place, windows are not broken, and openings are sealed.
- Provide fire hydrants, sprinkler valves and fire brigade sprinkler connections with markers visible above potential snow piles.
- Provide generators as back-up power supplies for critical operations.
- Develop a strategy for protecting water pipes.
- Ensure temperature sensitive materials are adequately stored.
- Store all stock/WIP off the floor to prevent damage by flooding.
- Clean all roof gutters and down pipes ensuring they are free from obstruction.
- Service heating systems regularly and ensure thermostats/frost-stats are working correctly and set appropriately.
- If portable heaters are required, ensure they are adequately maintained, staff are trained to use them safely and that fire risk assessments are updated to reflect the additional hazard.
- Ensure sprinkler systems are maintained; alternate systems are drained.
- Ensure sprinkler pump houses are adequately heated.
- Drain water pipes in areas likely to freeze. Where this is not possible ensure the pipes are properly lagged.
- Ensure all traffic and travel routes on your site are kept clear of snow/ice.
- Provide a stock of salt/grit for keeping paths and traffic routes free of snow/ice.
- Ensure fire hydrant markers are kept clear of snow drifts.
- Ensure vehicles are serviced, water levels and anti-freeze are adequate.
- Plan routes to avoid minor roads, which may not have been cleared of snow and ice.
- Inspect your buildings after a period of freezing weather.
Employees
For employees who have to work outside or work in unheated buildings, risk assessments must be revised, taking the cold weather into account. Simple controls can be implemented to mitigate the effects of the cold weather.
- Provide warm waterproof clothing where required.
- Ensure regular breaks where employees can rest in a warm area.
- Provide regular hot drinks.
- Undertake job rotation, ensuring individuals’ exposure to the cold is limited.
The following checklist may help when determining the required actions:
Special thanks to Travelers Insurance Co Ltd, for the above useful guidance.
