This addendum adds the winter hazards to a workplace hazard assessment and safety program. WCB Nova Scotia's analysis of nearly 1,700 snow and ice claims found injuries usually spike one to three days after major weather events, so the inspection routine in Section 2 runs for 72 hours after every storm. Sections 3 to 7 cover the hazards that are easy to overlook: roof and skylight access, snow equipment around pedestrians, temporary heat, manual shovelling and the snow removal contractor.
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Every winter task needs one named person. A role with no name is a gap.
| Role | Name | Backup | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter program owner | |||
| Post-storm inspector (every shift pattern) | |||
| Manager of the snow contractor relationship | |||
| Receives injury notices and claims | |||
| Approves any roof access | |||
| Other |
A storm for this site is:
Define it with a number you can check, such as snowfall depth, any freezing rain, or a thaw followed by a freeze. Surfaces that look clear can still be icy, especially in shade and early in the morning.
| When | Minimum action | Who | Done by (time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 0 (storm) | Confirm contractor is on site. Close or barrier any area that cannot be made safe before the next shift. | ||
| Day 1 | Walk entrances, dock doors, smoking shelters, ramps, walkways and the lot before the first shift. Treat and re-treat shaded areas. Record the walk. | ||
| Day 2 | Re-inspect shaded areas, ramps and building corners before the first and last shifts. Record the walk. | ||
| Day 3 | Repeat Day 2. Close out the storm log and note what failed. |
Snow hides skylights, vents and hatches. Map them before the snow falls. Complete one row per roof, trailer yard, canopy or elevated surface where snow could accumulate.
| Roof / surface | Skylights, vents, hatches (count, mapped Y/N) | Does snow need to come off? (Y/N, why) | Method (ground / equipment / worker access) | Fall protection and training confirmed (Y/N) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall protection trigger height in this jurisdiction, and the provision:
Example: Saskatchewan, OHS Regulations, 2020, s. 9-2(2) requires a fall protection system where a worker may fall three metres or more, or where injury is possible from a shorter fall. Other provinces set their own thresholds. Confirm the current wording for yours.
| Requirement | What good looks like | Y / N / N-A | Evidence or gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing of heavy work | Piling and hauling scheduled for when the lot is closed or nearly empty. | ||
| Work zone marked | Barriers or cones around the machine, with a separate marked route for pedestrians. | ||
| Activities kept out of the zone | Cart collection, deliveries, smoke breaks and parking are excluded while equipment runs. | ||
| Minimum distance set | Stated and communicated. After a 2023 fatality CNESST recommended that anyone who must be in the lot stay at least 9 m from a snow removal vehicle. It is a recommendation, not a regulatory minimum. | ||
| Spotter for reversing | A trained spotter or camera and alarm in use when reversing near people. | ||
| Tenants and staff notified | Told before the equipment arrives, with a named contact. | ||
| Operator briefed and equipped | Visible clothing, working alarms and lights, and a pre-use equipment inspection. |
Fuel-burning heaters, generators, propane equipment and forklifts all produce carbon monoxide. It builds up in poorly ventilated spaces, including semi-enclosed areas sheltered with tarps and plastic sheeting.
| Requirement | What good looks like | Y / N / N-A | Evidence or gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installed to the instructions | Every heater set up as the manufacturer states, including valve settings that are locked where required. | ||
| Exhaust vented outdoors | Where the manufacturer requires it, and re-checked when tarps or doors change. | ||
| CO monitoring | Detectors with alarms where fuel-burning equipment runs in a closed or tarped space. On Ontario construction projects, s. 47 of O. Reg. 213/91 requires CO testing under a written strategy where an internal combustion engine runs in an enclosed space. Confirm how it applies to your heaters. | ||
| Not left running | Equipment shut off when no one is using it. | ||
| Symptoms known | Crew trained to recognize headache, dizziness, nausea and confusion. Move to fresh air and call 911. |
Carbon monoxide exposure limit in this jurisdiction (8-hour and short-term):
Ontario sets limits through Regulation 833. Other provinces have their own. Record the current value and source.
| Requirement | What good looks like | Y / N / N-A | Evidence or gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written scope | Snow depth that triggers a visit, response time, ice treatment, and whether roofs are in or out. | ||
| Contractor visit log | Date, time, areas cleared and treated, kept for the season and compared with your own inspection log. | ||
| Insurance and coverage | Current workers’ compensation coverage and liability insurance on file, checked again mid-season. | ||
| Roof and pedestrian methods | Both in writing before the first storm. | ||
| Notice routing | One named person receives injury notices and, the same day, serves a copy on the other occupiers and the contractor by personal service or registered mail, keeping proof of service. | ||
| Review | Contract and log reviewed after the first major storm. |
Person who receives notices: Phone:
| Day / time | Area inspected | Condition found | Action taken (treated, closed, reported) | Initials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Person and what happened | Notice received (date, how) | Copy served on (name, method, date) | Injury date and day 60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Our consultants (CRSP Certified · COR & ISO 45001 Lead Auditors) can adapt this to your workplace or review your safety program with you.
This resource is general guidance, not legal advice. Confirm every requirement against the current regulation in your jurisdiction before relying on it.