Access to the workplace
While it is the responsibility of your employees to make every attempt to safely attend work, under health & safety legislation, it is your responsibility as an employer to provide safe access to and from the workplace. This includes any parking and walkway areas on the grounds of your business premises. Taking the time to grit footpaths and carparks will reduce your exposure to receiving claims from employees who suffer slip and fall injuries.
Take the temperature
Is the office temperature at least 16°C or does additional heating need to be supplied? Under Irish health & safety legislation, no maximum or minimum temperatures for a workplace are prescribed. Your general duty under health & safety legislation to ensure the safety, health and welfare of all employees while they are at work. Included in this duty is the requirement to regulate the temperature in your premises. A workplace that is too hot or too cold may cause negative effects on the welfare and health of employees.
Outdoor workers
Employees working outside must be provided with adequate protective clothing to ensure that they remain warm and safe (e.g. hats, gloves, safety boots and high-visibility padded jackets). Any risks identified in your initial risk assessment may be increased in bad weather conditions (e.g. the risk of slipping whilst climbing ladders or working at heights). Taking appropriate precautions in bad weather is vital.
Company drivers
Ideally employees should avoid driving in dangerous weather conditions unless the journey is absolutely necessary (according to the Health and Safety Authority, up to a third of all road traffic accidents involve somebody who is at work at the time).
Prevention is better than cure
A proactive approach to HR problems caused by bad weather is recommended. Training on how to drive in bad weather and how to prepare vehicles for adverse weather conditions may be required for employees who are on the road. Permitting some flexibility on work hours to encourage the use of public transport might be another useful precautionary measure to take. No two businesses are alike but remembering that you must ensure the health & safety of your employees while they are at work should be your guiding principle.
To talk with someone about how to prepare your business for the winter ahead, call our 24-hour advice line on 0818 923 923.
