Safe winter working – Xmo Strata offers advice to online visitors
7th November 2007
Sign installation and maintenance specialist Xmo Strata, has released a six point safety guide on its website as a reference point for sign engineers working in winter conditions.
The company has a hard-won reputation for its uncompromising stance on health and safety, and says it is acutely aware of the potential dangers faced as the early nights set in.
“Heightened areas of concern at this time of year may be thought of as ‘common sense’,” said Steve Martin, Managing Director of Xmo Strata. “However, sometimes even common sense can be overlooked, causing fatal accidents and near-misses. Going right back to basics and identifying those obvious key areas of risk may be all that is needed to prevent unnecessary accidents.”
Points covered in the guide are:
- Diminished visibility – Engineers and their work area should be clearly identifiable by staff and patrons. Fluorescent jackets should be worn at ALL times when on-site.
- Protection of work area – Rigid barriers should be used on all sites to protect the work area. Crew vans with reflective markings offer a safe means of sectioning off a work space, and on forecourts in particular, provide a strong defence from on-coming traffic. Cones and tape can then be used in addition to rigid barriers as extra visual warnings.
- Work schedule – Work should be prioritised throughout the day to cater for early nightfall. Any intricate work or work at height should be prioritised, where possible, for hours of daylight where full concentration and visibility are essential.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – High visibility vests, gloves, eye protection and harnesses (if carrying out work at height) should be worn at all times, to ensure that engineers can be easily identified and meet health and safety regulations and best practice for PPE.
- Risk assessments / Safety method statements – Risk assessments should be carried out before every job undertaken. During the winter months, particular attention should be paid to potentially slippery work platforms, which should be continually reassessed during periods of rain or snow. The assessments will establish any high-risk areas and allow engineers to address them accordingly. In conditions of high winds (as in the winter of 2006/7), it is important to take wind-speed checks on every site to ensure that engineers will be safe to conduct work at height. Comprehensive assessments will establish any high-risk areas and allow engineers to address them accordingly.
- On-site contacts and emergency procedures – Engineers should be instantly identifiable to clients especially when working in the dark, and should be known to the Site Manager. High visibility vests should be worn and a company logo should be clearly displayed. Before work begins, on-site staff should make themselves familiar with the customer emergency procedures and designated muster points.