Winter often brings a kind of quiet unpredictability—walkways that were dry at closing can glaze over by morning, stairwells become treacherous with overnight refreeze, and a routine walk from the parking lot can become the biggest risk of someone’s day. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) consistently records thousands of workplace injuries each year tied to “environmental cold” and slip-and-fall events, many of them severe enough to cause days away from work.
Yet the businesses that fare best each winter aren’t simply lucky. They succeed because they prepare early, respond quickly, and build stronger habits around treating winter slips and falls not as inevitabilities—but as preventable, manageable risks.
Below is a winter safety framework designed to empower organizations to stay ahead of the season, protect their people, and reinforce the kind of operational resilience that pays dividends long beyond the thaw.
Essential Practices
- An Emergency Response Team
When winter weather shifts, the timing matters. Conditions can deteriorate in minutes, not hours, and risk escalates just as quickly. Organizations that designate a Winter Emergency Response Team (ERT)—even a small one—gain a decisive advantage.
This team monitors live updates from the National Weather Service (NWS) and regional forecast offices, watching for winter storm warnings, freeze advisories, and wind chill alerts that directly correlate with elevated slip-and-fall hazards. Their role is simple but powerful: communicate early, activate protocols quickly, and give leadership real-time situational awareness.
“Winter safety starts long before anyone steps outside,” says Scott Pike, Risk Management Expertise Specialist at Amerisure.
“When your organization pays attention to the early indicators—dropping temperatures, shifting forecasts, the first signs of refreeze—you’re able to get ahead of the conditions instead of being caught off-guard. That kind of preparation isn’t complicated; it’s simply paying attention in a way that makes everyday movement safer for everyone.”
- Winter-Ready Buildings
Ice doesn’t appear out of nowhere—it forms from runoff, refreeze, poor drainage, and unseen wear-and-tear. A seasonal inspection can reveal the small issues that create the biggest risks. A strong winter readiness check should cover:
- Handrails that stay steady when everything else is slick. Stable rails reduce injury severity and remain a core expectation within federal safety guidelines.
- Gutters and downspouts that move water away—not onto—walkways. Blocked or damaged gutters can send water straight onto walking paths, where it refreezes into black ice by dawn.
- Drains kept clear of leaves and debris. Clogged drains allow meltwater to pool across sidewalks and entryways, freezing into wide, nearly invisible sheets.
- Exterior lighting that turns dark corners into safe pathways. Adequate illumination is one of winter’s greatest risk-reducers, emphasized across federal and state safety recommendations.
These aren’t dramatic fixes—but they are deeply effective. Winter safety is strengthened long before the first snow arrives.
- Snow & Ice Removal
When snow piles up, the clock starts. Delayed removal leads directly to injury spikes, access problems, and business disruptions. A strong winter safety program includes:
- Clear access for emergency crews: Hydrants, standpipes, and hose connections must remain visible and unobstructed for rapid response. Snowdrifts shouldn’t hide lifesaving equipment.
- Salt, sand, and traction materials stocked at every entrance: Quick access to traction agents allows staff to address developing hazards before slip-and-falls occur.
- Well-maintained interior mats and clear “Wet Floor” signage: Water-absorbent mats can prevent the tracked-in meltwater that often leads to lobby falls. Curled or bunched mats—common in winter—should be replaced immediately to avoid trip hazards. Floor mats inside of doors that are saturated with water should be replaced often, and water on the floor around the mats should be mopped up regularly.
- Emergency exits: Emergency and secondary exits must be checked to make sure that ice on the exterior does not keep the door from opening. Sidewalks from emergency exits should be kept clear of ice and snow as this can slow emergency egress from the building.
These show-not-tell practices help employees and visitors see that safety is not an annual campaign—it’s a daily choice. Each action reinforces a culture where winter hazards are handled with intention, not reaction.
“Many winter slip-and-falls happen in the everyday areas of operation—entryways, curbs, loading zones, the walk from the parking lot,” Pike notes. “When these spaces are cleared, drained, and well-lit, people instinctively move with more confidence.”
“It’s not always about big interventions—it’s about the consistent care that prevents the small hazards from becoming bigger ones.”
Looking Ahead
Winter doesn’t have to weaken operations or morale. With a thoughtful plan, consistent inspections, and proactive mitigation, organizations can dramatically reduce slip-and-fall incidents and create safer, more confident pathways for employees and guests.
At Amerisure, we partner with businesses across construction, manufacturing, and healthcare to strengthen their winter safety strategies, reinforce day-to-day readiness, and build cultures that move with intention—even when the ground beneath them is unpredictable.
To explore more or connect with an Amerisure Risk Management professional, visit our website.
The information provided does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or financial advice; instead, all information, content, and materials contained in each article are for general informational purposes only.
