Winter is coming, are you ready?
With daylight hours reducing by the day and winter fast approaching with the possibility of ice, snow, and freezing temperatures, it's time to review our winter safety tips!
Office Coverage
While it’s important that at least two employees are at the office until closing year around, it’s especially important when it gets dark at 3:00 p.m.
- Parking lots are icy and often have poor lighting creating a dangerous scenario.
- If an employee is alone and falls, injuring themselves, it could be a long time before help arrives, and it’s dark so they can't be seen as easily from the surrounding area.
- Try to schedule at least two employees until 5:00 p.m.
- Consider creating a formal schedule rotating the responsibility and hold employees accountable for their rotation.
Icy parking lots and sidewalks
- Use your IDL provided ice cleats!
- Take smaller steps, shuffle, walk like a penguin.
- Be extra cautious when stepping down out of your vehicle.
- Keep hands free for balance.
Tips for driving in the snow and ice-from AAA
- Watch for wildlife! We are now traveling more during their active time, and they are more difficult to see. Be vigilant.
- Keep a bundle of cold-weather gear in your car, such as extra food and water, warm clothing, a flashlight, a glass scraper, blankets, medications, and more.
- Make certain your tires are properly inflated and have plenty of tread.
- Keep at least half a tank of fuel in your vehicle at all times.
- Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface, such as ice and snow.
- Drive slowly. Reduce your speed to account for less traction and stopping distance when driving on snow or ice. Be aware of black ice!
- Accelerate and decelerate slowly.
- Know your brakes.
- Don’t power up hills.
- Don’t stop while going up a hill.
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Check the Weather: Check the weather along your route and delay your trip if bad weather is expected.
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Stay Connected: Before hitting the road, notify others and let them know your route, destination, and estimated time of arrival.
The links below have additional information and tips for winter driving and winter weather safety.
Winter Travel Safety-AAA
Winter Safety Tips-National Weather Service
Where to find the Safety Program in the new SharePoint
Did you know that the IDL Safety Program is under Operations in the IDL organizational structure?
The Safety Program at the old SharePoint, or intranet, is no longer being updated so you will need to access the new SharePoint 2.0. The Safety Program is located under Operations where you will find all of your safety resources including workplace accident and injury reporting procedures and forms, and so much more! It's still a bit under construction, but I invite you to browse around to familiarize yourself with where everything is located.
Please let me know if there is anything else that you would like to see there, we are all part of the safety effort!
Safety Program
Your project ideas are needed!
Each year the Safety Committee prioritizes safety projects to focus on for the year. The committee is structured to include employees from several programs, so the recommendations are diverse. This year, we want to know what YOU want the committee to work on! When thinking about this, think big picture. Suggest projects that impact all employees. If you have ideas specific to your location, please see your Office Safety Coordinator, Area or senior manager, or contact me. All ideas are important!
The work that goes into bringing safety measures to fruition requires a lot of committee time, research, and effort. Ideas are discussed and prioritized, then recommendations are proposed to the Executive Team. After the Executive Team reviews it and gives approval, we bring it to you.
Your safety while conducting IDL business is our number one priority, but we can't think of everything, so this is where you come in. Please submit your safety suggestions to safety@idl.idaho.gov or to any Safety Committee Member. Members are listed at the Safety Program SharePoint location: Safety Committee
Below are a few of the safety measures that have been implemented through the Safety Committee:
- Help Button reactivation
- High visibility t-shirts and sweatshirts.
- High visibility baseball caps and stocking hats.
- Ice cleats
- Parking lot lighting priority
- Office Drills
- Policy update and development
- AED's
- Employee Safety Award (watch for more information coming your way!)
We look forward to hearing from you! Please share your ideas for the next Safety Committee project.
Join the Safety Committee and make a difference
The IDL Safety Committee is seeking new members to replace members that have completed their terms. The work of the committee is intended to complement our ongoing safety programs and activities. If you are interested in making a difference for you and your fellow team members, please submit a letter or email of interest to me at vsnider@idl.idaho.gov.
The goal is to enhance the safety culture throughout the department to ensure we provide a safe working environment for our employees and visitors. We envision a workplace where safety is more than a priority; it is embraced by every employee in all aspects of their job.
Committee Purpose
- Promote a safe working environment by facilitating open communication about health and safety throughout the agency and provide a systematic way for safety issues and concerns to be exposed and properly mitigated.
Committee Duties
The committee will look at issues in a comprehensive manner by doing the following:
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Research – Conduct research to determine best practices in solving safety concerns.
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Training – Recommend training solutions and determine the best delivery method.
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Communication – Ensure that the Safety Officer is providing the appropriate amounts and types of communication to various employee groups to keep safety concerns at the forefront.
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Policy – Recommend and provide data to the Safety Officer for the development of policies that clearly outline expectations and practices in relation to employee safety.
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Resources – Recommend safety equipment or work modifications to the executive staff via the Safety Officer.
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Review – assess implementation and effectiveness of safety plans and practices by reviewing yearly presentation of data by the Safety Officer.
Projects may be assigned to a task force that may include other IDL employees with knowledge of an issue. This will help share the load and provide opportunities for other individuals throughout the department to participate in developing our safety program.
Time Commitment
The Safety Committee conducts a monthly meeting via Zoom for one (1) hour. Additional time will be required of committee members to perform research and review safety related documents and policy as they are developed. Task forces are led by a committee member and will include 2-3 additional members that may or may not be committee members. The time spent in research and developing documents will be dependent upon the subject matter. Efforts are made to distribute work within the committee and on task force groups to moderate the potential workload on individuals as much as possible.
Staff Development
Involvement in this committee can provide individuals great insight into many aspects of tasks, workloads, and activities across the department. Successful participation on this committee can help in career development. It can help develop analytical skills, provide experience working in a group to reach common ground on complicated issues, and allow members to gain experience presenting ideas and concepts to a variety of audiences. Motivation and active participation are the two most important tools to bring to the table.
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