Prevent Winter Slip, Trip and Fall Accidents During Slick Conditions
Slip, trip and fall accidents are particularly prevalent during Minnesota winters. Providing your employees and the public information to help them make safe behavior choices could save your organization significant costs, time and grief related to liability and workers’ compensation injuries. MCIT’s Step Wisely program helps make winter slip, trip and fall prevention efforts easy for its members.
More Than Posters: How to Use the Step Wisely Program for Maximum Benefit (Webinar recorded Nov. 9, 2022)
Awareness Materials
The below materials help build awareness of winter slip, trip and fall prevention. Place items in prominent places, such as break rooms, exits, on the intranet and through e-mail to grab the attention of employees and the public. To keep the message fresh, use one topic for a few weeks then switch to another for a few weeks and so on.
Walking in a Winter Blunderland 2022-’23 Materials
“Walking in a Winter Blunderland” Video
Share the below video in two ways with your employees:
- Embed on your intranet
- Link to the video: post on your intranet and/or e-mail to employees
“Walking in a Winter Blunderland” Display Materials and Engagement Activities
Use the below items in a variety of ways to build awareness about winter slip and fall hazards. Get creative with how and where you use them.
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Keep Hands Free for Balance |
Wear Appropriate Footwear |
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Avoid Shortcuts Through Snow |
Look for Slick Spots (Exiting/Entering Vehicles) |
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Walking in a Winter Blunderland Lyrics Contest |
Slip and Fall Prevention Is Appealing Engagement Activity Place above a bowl of bananas for staff and invite them to grab a quick, healthy snack. This is a great way to kick off the campaign or to re-engage staff with it midway. |
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Slip and Fall Prevention Is Appealing Engagement Activity Place above a bowl of oranges for staff and invite them to grab a quick, healthy snack. This is a great way to kick off the campaign or to re-engage staff with it midway. |
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MCIT members can request to have some of the above materials printed and mailed to them. Complete and return the Step Wisely Order Form to request materials.
Learn More About Using the Step Wisely Program
- Video: “More Than Posters: How to Use the Step Wisely Program for Maximum Benefit”
- Step Wisely overview …
Expand the sections below to see and download each theme’s materials.
Baby Blues of Winter
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Yeesh! It’s Slip and Fall Season Again (weather awareness) Poster (11×17) Table Tent Digital Image* |
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Nailed It! I Took the Cleared Path … |
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Seriously, These Boots Are Made for Walking on Snow and Ice Poster (11×17) Table Tent Digital Image* |
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Create Your Own Caption (getting into and out of vehicle): This bonus poster gives members the chance to provide their own clever caption. Suggested use: Employee contest Poster (11×17) |
P.A.W.S.: Pause, Assess and Walk Safely Theme
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Winter Has Come (Be prepared for changing conditions) |
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Grab a Hold of Vehicle (When exiting or entering) |
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Scout a Cleared Path (When walking on snow or ice) |
Sports Theme
Spot the Hazard game: This fun game challenges employees to spot 12 slip, trip and fall hazards in a wacky image showing people trying to get safely to the government center.
- Download Spot the Hazard Game
- Download Spot the Hazard Answer Key
Short animated videos: The series of four videos matches with the messages below. Use them in conjunction with the below display materials. Post them to the organization’s intranet or e-mail links to employees.
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3 Points of Contact (exiting/entering vehicles) Poster Table Tent Digital Image* (for e-mail/lock screen) |
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Illegal Route |
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Amazing Shuffle Step Poster Table Tent Digital Image* (for e-mail/lock screen) |
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Successful Entry Poster Table Tent Digital Image* (for e-mail/lock screen) |
- Request Materials: The above and others using different themes are available upon request (electronic files and printed materials). Submit the Contact MCIT form indicating which items you want and the quantity of each. Materials will be provided to MCIT members at no cost
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Digital Images: Safety committees can get a great deal of mileage out of these ready-to-go messages. Simply download a message and paste it into an e-mail and send to employees once a week to support other slip, trip and fall hazard awareness and accident prevention efforts.
Increase Winter Slip and Fall Hazard Awareness with More Digital Images
Safety committees, department heads and supervisors can use the below digital images to send in e-mails, post to intranets, include in employee newsletters and elsewhere to alert staff to various winter slip and fall hazards and ways to prevent injury.
Expand the sections below for directions on how to send an image in an e-mail and to see the additional messages.
Learn How to Send Digital Images in E-mails
- Click on the image below of the e-mail you want.
- Right click on the image, choose “save image as” and then choose a location on your computer or system for where to save the image file.
- Open a new e-mail message and insert the image into the body of the message.
- Enter attention-grabbing text in the subject line and send to your staff.
More Winter Slip and Fall Prevention Messages as Digital Images
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Temporary Caution Posters
The below signs have been developed for temporary use on or near exit doors during changing conditions for winter slip, trip and fall prevention. The signs are intended to be used as a tool in conjunction with other practices, including but not limited to shoveling, sweeping, applying salt and/or sand, or other winter slip, trip and fall prevention strategies.
Signs should only be used on a temporary basis when warranted by weather conditions. Permanent use could result in occupants becoming complacent and reduce the poster’s effectiveness. The posters should not be used as a substitute for slip and fall prevention best practices.
- Slick Conditions: This sign is intended to warn occupants exiting buildings that walking surfaces may be slippery due to changing weather conditions.
- Specific Need: This poster includes a blank section, allowing users to enter a message based on a specific need, such as “Watch for falling icicles.”
Training Materials Support Awareness
Many of the Quick Take training scripts and the Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention Power Point presentation address year-round hazards that you can use to train employees about safer habits.
Employer Resources for Managing Slip, Trip and Fall Risks
Check out more resources to find tools, including the Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention Handbook, to help identify and manage slip, trip and fall hazards.