http://www.prudentialuniforms.com/ | Fall is the best time to get ready for the health and safety issues posed by winter. Check your workers' safety gear, prepare the facilities, and offer community wellness programs to help keep your employees healthy and happy.

1. Fall Safety Checklist
A perceptible change occurs in the workplace as the last of summer gives way to the
beginning of fall. Workers shift their carefree summer thoughts toward the busy holidays.
Some businesses prepare for overtime to increase holiday production; others ready the
workplace for winter maintenance shutdowns. Now is the ideal time to review your safety
equipment and procedures and help your workers stay healthy and productive during this
crazy time of year.
Autumn Immunizations
One way businesses are chipping away at sick days is by offering immunizations for
employees. Some companies also offer free or reduced-price shots to family members,
with the idea that fewer sick kids leads to fewer missed days of work. Immunizations
commonly offered during the fall include influenza, whooping cough, pneumonia, and
the shingles. According to Partnership for Prevention, each employee who comes down
with the flu can cost the company around $1,000. If 20 percent of your workers come
down with the flu, that adds up quickly. Protecting employees and their families can save
companies tens of thousands of dollars per year.
A Checklist for Cleanliness and Winter Readiness
Winter is the worst time for slip and fall accidents. Wet, icy feet and floors, combined
with cold workers, create a dangerous situation. In addition to supplying workers with
quality winter work clothes, be sure to equip them with no-slip footwear and install
abrasive, no-slip flooring near outer doorways or clearly mark slippery areas with signs
or markers. Keep floors, parking lots, hallways, and other areas prone to moisture or ice
cleaned regularly to control the hazards. Do this in the fall before ice and snow catch you
off guard and lead to workman's compensation claims.
Safety Drills
Conducting regular drills for common threats -- such as fire, tornado, earthquake, serious
injuries, and civil unrest -- may seem time-consuming and unnecessary. However, it is
recommended to conduct regular drills for all of these emergencies, as well as any
industry-specific emergencies you might face, such as chemical spills or radiological
accidents.1 Fall is the ideal time to conduct these drills, when you don't have to worry
about excessive heat or bitter cold outdoors.
Safety Equipment Checklist
While your focus is on health and safety, it's a good idea to take stock of your safety
equipment and see that you have what you need and that the gear is in good shape. Check
supplies of recommended safety equipment:
1

2. ● Safety glasses
● Flame resistant clothing
● Fire extinguishers
● Hazard hats
● Safety gloves
● Ear plugs
● Industry-specific safety gear and equipment
Educating Employees on Non-Work-Related Health and Safety
Fall is a dangerous time for workers, as well as members of the community outside the
workplace. In order to keep down missed work days and to offer the public some needed
services, many companies extend their health and safety programs outside the
organization. Great ideas for promoting safety and good health habits during the fall
include:
● Hosting a health fair
● Offering the community a safe alternative to trick-or-treating
● Promoting DUI awareness as holiday parties approach
● Partnering with local medical teams to educate the public on proper hand washing
methods to keep down cold and flu outbreaks or to tout the benefits of
immunizations
Helping to create a healthier and safer community is the best way to take care of your
workforce, so initiatives that benefit the public at large almost always translate into fewer
missed days of work due to illness, injury, or worse. Have a safe and merry season!