Mission: Possible: Step Wisely on Snow and Ice

Building awareness among staff about the hazards posed by winter weather is easy using MCIT Step Wisely materials. New items are posted to the Resource Library for easy downloading.

The campaign is for anyone concerned about workplace safety, including safety committee members and managers or supervisors.

This year’s theme is “Mission: Possible” and draws employees’ attention to measures they can take to prevent a slip and fall injury, such as using the shuffle step, wearing appropriate footwear and choosing cleared walkways.

Members with larger employee populations will receive a mailed starter packet, and other members can either download materials or submit an online order for printed items to be sent to them at no cost.

Display One Message at a Time for Maximum Effect

Step Wisely materials include three specific safety messages around the “Mission: Possible” theme. For maximum benefit, focus on using one message at a time. This gives employees a chance to absorb the message without it getting cluttered by others.

This is simple to do:

• At the start of winter, hang posters for one message around the facility.
• Follow up a week or two later with an email to staff using the corresponding digital image.
• A few weeks later, replace the first poster with the one for the second message.
• Follow up a couple of weeks after that with an email using the corresponding digital image for message two.
• Repeat the process for topic three.

Tip: Set calendar reminders for when to swap posters and send emails.

Get Creative

Members can be creative with how they use Step Wisely materials. Think of where and how the organization communicates with staff, such as on bulletin boards, on the intranet, at team meetings, through email, in the employee newsletter and in common areas (e.g., break rooms).

Members are also encouraged to think beyond the Step Wisely ready-to-use materials to engage staff with the campaign. Consider a kick-off event and other small reminder activities throughout the winter.

Step Wisely Materials

• Wall posters
• Digital images, related to the theme and supplemental messages
• NEW: animated gif files (most intranets and Outlook 365 support this file format)
• Quick Take on Safety refresher training scripts
• “Caution” poster to alert people to new hazards, such as changing weather conditions, and are to be hung on
  temporary/short timeframe
• Yard sign: members should ask their loss control consultant about this option

MCIT Assists Members with Safety

MCIT loss control consultants are available to meet with members to discuss ways to help prevent slip and fall incidents, particularly how to get the most out of the Step Wisely program. Members can contact their MCIT loss control consultant at 866.547.6516.