Winter weather hazards are no match for a prepared organization - but neither is the seasonal surge in foot traffic and care demands. Is your space ready to keep everyone safe?
As temperatures drop and community needs rise, busy environments like food banks, thrift stores, day programs, shelters, and community centers face a double challenge: hazardous conditions and increased activity. These vital spaces serve communities year-round, but the winter season brings unique risks that demand extra attention.
Why winter demands extra attention
Human Services organizations face unique challenges during the colder months:
- Seasonal surges in demand mean more clients, volunteers, and staff moving through facilities.
- Mobility limitations among vulnerable populations (e.g., seniors, individuals with disabilities, families with young children) increase the risk of injury.
- Donation activity at thrift stores and food pantries can create clutter and outdoor hazards.
- Limited resources may make it harder to keep up with snow removal, mat replacement, and hazard monitoring.
- Multiple service locations (e.g., shelters, transitional housing, outreach centers) require coordinated safety efforts across sites.
Slips, trips, and falls are among the most common causes of injury across all industries, and the consequences can be severe. According to OSHA, falls claim approximately 12,000 lives and result in over 30,000 disabling injuries annually - not to mention the countless minor injuries that go unreported.
Now is the time to take proactive steps: keep walking surfaces clear, dry, and safe to protect everyone who enters your space this winter.
Action steps to prevent slips and falls this season
Prep for weather hazards
- Monitor forecasts daily to anticipate snow, ice, or heavy rain.
- Stock supplies: Keep shovels, gloves, salt, sand, and mats readily available.
- Clear early: Assign staff to remove snow, ice, and mud from parking lots and walkways before staff and clients arrive.
- Use slip-resistant treatments like salt or sand to maintain traction.
Create safer entry points
- Install slip-resistant flooring material around entry ways, food prep areas and other areas prone to wet conditions. For instance, mats with textured or serrated surfaces; replace any that are worn, curled, or slick.
- Use “Caution: Wet Floor” signs when you’re caught off-guard or temporarily unable to keep ahead of floor-cleaning tasks.
Dress and equip for safety
- Require staff and volunteers to wear weather-appropriate footwear for the conditions.
- Provide gloves and gear for outdoor hazard removal, emphasizing grip and safety.
Light and mark the way
- Ensure adequate lighting in parking lots, stairwells, and walkways.
- Clearly identify steps, ramps and other elevation changes.
- Install handrails where needed for added stability.
Clutter control and site-specific hazards
- Keep donation drop-off areas, food prep zones, and walkways clear of boxes, bags, and supplies, especially during peak hours or large-scale meal distributions.
- Include donation areas, food storage spaces, accessibility features, and outdoor conditions in your safety checklist.
- Ensure volunteers and staff know how to safely navigate high-traffic areas, especially when handling hot meals, heavy boxes, or perishable goods.
- Conduct walk-throughs during busy hours to spot real-time risks, like blocked exits, slippery floors, or overcrowded prep stations.
Build an effective fall prevention program
- Develop written standards for maintaining safe walking surfaces, tailored to the needs of your organization and clients. These standards should be followed by all staff and volunteers.
- Establish expectations for slip-resistant footwear and other safety gear appropriate for winter conditions.
- Define roles and responsibilities in preventing slips and falls, and communicate them clearly to both staff and volunteers.
- Train individuals assigned to snow and ice removal on safe techniques to prevent back injuries and overexertion.
- Conduct regular follow-ups to ensure fall prevention standards are being implemented consistently.
- Recognize success and make improvements where needed to strengthen your safety culture.
Talk with your drivers
Staff delivering meals, transporting clients, or collecting donations often operate larger vans and trucks, making them especially vulnerable to falls when entering or exiting vehicles. The risk rises substantially in the presence of mud, ice or snow.
Instruct your truck drivers to always use the three-point stance while getting in and out of their cabs - keeping both hands on the vehicle for support while raising or lowering one leg at a time.
Clients being transported also face fall hazards, especially those with limited mobility or during poor weather conditions.
To help protect clients:
- Ensure staff are trained to assist clients safely during vehicle entry and exit.
- Encourage clients to maintain at least two points of contact (e.g., one hand on a grab bar and one foot firmly planted).
- Equip vehicles with grab bars, non-slip steps, and adequate lighting.
- Check steps and handrails for mud, ice, or snow before each use.
- Share simple safety tips with clients during onboarding or transport orientation.
Engage your team
Winter hazards go beyond snow—spills, clutter, and poor lighting can happen anytime. Assign clear roles for monitoring and cleanup and encourage real-time reporting. Have your safety committee conduct walk-throughs during active hours to identify risks, update checklists, and track progress. A proactive team culture helps prevent injuries before they happen.
Even without snow or ice, high foot traffic and busy schedules increase safety risks. Simple precautions and shared responsibility go a long way. With preparation and teamwork, your organization can protect everyone, every step of the way.
Resources
Slip, trip and fall risk assessment tool
Preventing slips and falls
