Need To Focus On Safety Of Workers In Winter

Jobs that involve working outdoors or in potentially hazardous locations should be a real focus for companies and organisations at this time of year.

 
An article for SHP has examined construction safety during the darker winter months, and highlights the need for employers and employees alike to be vigilant of potential hazards.

 
It pointed out that employers need to make sure everyone who works for them is aware of regulations and takes the appropriate steps to keep themselves safe. This is particularly important for any highways workers, with the Highways Agency revealing that injuries to road workers in Great Britain have risen.

Wearing high visibility clothing is an obvious thing to do, and anyone who works on construction or highway maintenance will know that this is essential.

However, SHP points out that health and safety managers also need to be conscious of grabbing the attention of the public, who may be tired, or have become desensitised to current safety signs.

The publication also pointed out that there is new reflective technology being developed - such as NightView reflective webbing - that could help make construction environments safer.

It isn’t only workers who need to take extra care now that the evenings are drawing in and the mornings are staying darker for longer.

Police in London have been working to make cyclists more aware of their visibility and even handed out free bike lights in the two days following the clock change at the end of October, while thousands of Boris bikes are being upgraded to feature Blaze laserlights, that project the image of a bike on the ground in front of the bicycle.