Winter walking tips to help avoid falls and injuries

As another winter season approaches, Radiological and Environmental Management (REM) would like to remind the campus community to exercise caution when walking and traveling in snowy and icy conditions. The following precautions can help reduce the chance of injuries associated with slipping or falling:

• Plan routes, and walk only on cleared and treated surfaces. Use pedestrian subwalks and skywalks to walk through buildings whenever possible.
• Wear appropriate footwear, including those that are specifically designed to grip on ice to increase traction. When wearing ice cleats, remember to remove them indoors to avoid slipping.
• Slow down and take shorter steps to help with traction.
• Avoid carrying heavy or awkward loads. Be sure to wear gloves not only to stay warm, but to keep hands available for better balancing.
• Use handrails when using stairs or ramps. Consider using an elevator, if available, as indoor stairs may also be wet due to tracked in snow and ice. Falls on stairs can lead to severe injuries, especially when slippery conditions are present.
• Use a door or seat to provide stability when getting in or out of a vehicle as parking lots may be slippery.

Contact the Grounds department at 765-494-3087 for questions regarding all snow removal operations. Grounds will then coordinate with other departments to address questions or requests. Building Services will remain responsible for removing snow from building entrances, ramps, steps and sidewalks immediately adjacent to buildings.

Self-serve ice melt buckets are available near doors in some facilities across campus. Contact Dave Petros, occupational safety specialist, at petros@purdue.edu to request self-serve buckets for a building.

REM also offers a winter walking safety infographic to print on 11”x17” paper for posting on bulletin boards in campus buildings.

For more information, contact REM at 765-494-6371 or email Eric Butt, director, at embutt@purdue.edu.