February Safety Topics: 8 Toolbox Talks for Late Winter

February safety topics deal with the tail end of winter. The days are getting longer, but snow and ice are still around, roofs carry heavy loads, and equipment that has run all winter starts to jam. February is also a short month with two useful observances, which makes planning easy.

Below are eight short toolbox talks, two a week, each with a full script in our toolbox talk library.

Why do these February safety topics fit the month?

Two observances set the first half. The American Burn Association runs National Burn Awareness Week in early February. It's a good prompt to walk the site and review everyday fire prevention habits, then check that people know where the extinguishers are and when not to use them.

February is also American Heart Month. The American Heart Association notes that the first one was proclaimed for February 1964 and that Congress has asked for it every year since. On the work side, OSHA warns that cold weather puts added strain on the heart. Unaccustomed effort such as shoveling snow or pushing a stuck vehicle can bring on a heart attack.

That is why week 2 pairs first aid awareness with a talk on warming up before physical work. OSHA specifically advises warming up before shoveling.

Snow loads move work onto roofs. OSHA's winter guidance says employers should consider ways to avoid working on roofs at all. If people must go up, a competent person should first check that a snow-loaded surface is structurally safe, because it may collapse. Snow can also hide skylights that workers can fall through.

OSHA's fall prevention campaign adds that workers six feet or more above a lower level are at risk of serious injury or death if they fall. Employers must provide fall protection and the right equipment for the job.

How should you run your February toolbox talks?

Keep each talk to about five minutes and hold it next to the thing you're discussing. For week 1, stand at an extinguisher. For week 4, stand at the snow blower or the machine that jams most often.

Before anyone clears a roof, write the job up step by step with our free job safety analysis builder. List the access route, the hidden hazards and the fall protection, and decide who checks the roof before work starts.

In week 4, connect jams to the lockout/tagout basics. OSHA notes that snow blowers commonly cause cuts and amputations when operators try to clear jams with the machine on. The same rule applies to any machine: stop it, isolate it and wait for moving parts to stop before reaching in.

What seasonal tips go with your safety topics for February?

Each of these comes from OSHA's winter weather guidance:

• Snow blowers: Refuel before starting the machine, never while it's running or the engine is hot. Make sure powered equipment is properly grounded.
• Roof hazards: Snow can hide skylights, and overhead power lines can create electrical hazards during roof snow removal.
• Walkways: Clear snow and ice and spread deicer as quickly as possible after a storm. Ice layers can form as temperatures drop, making surfaces even more slippery.
• Shoveling: Scoop small amounts, push snow rather than lift it where you can, and don't twist.

Plan ahead for March

March is National Ladder Safety Month and Workplace Eye Wellness Month, so you'll move from winter hazards to falls, eyes and chemicals. Keep notes on which of this month's toolbox talk topics got the most discussion, and repeat the best ones next winter.