Message from the Chief Safety Officer

With winter just around the corner, it’s essential to protect your safety and the safety of others when the weather may create hazardous conditions.

Fortunately, winter readiness planning is done year-round at the TTC. Teams across the organization ensure our winter inventory and equipment are replenished and ready to meet the winter weather. We also use the off-season to enhance employee training and modify our severe weather operations plans.

With winter approaching, this is an appropriate time to remind employees to prevent slips, trips and falls and how to avoid cold stress health issues like frostbite and hypothermia.

Betty Hasserjian
​Chief Safety Officer
​December 14, 2023

Prevent slips, trips and falls
​Watch out for and report hazardous conditions to your supervisor immediately so that they can be addressed:

• Slippery surfaces due to water, ice or snow.
​• Snowy and ice-covered sidewalks or paths.
​• Melted snow, ice or grit at the entrance of buildings and vehicles.
​• Black ice.
​• Damaged or obstructed sidewalks and roadways.

Supervisors must act on these reports appropriately by calling the Industrial Maintenance Control (IMC) desk at Transit Control.

Walking safely in winter weather
​Wear appropriate winter footwear that is well-insulated and waterproof, with a good tread and wide, low heel. Use designated walkways and available handrails. Walk slowly on wet surfaces. Do not stand on slippery equipment or materials.

Do not take shortcuts or go over snow banks; wipe your feet before entering a building and climbing steps or a ramp.

Cold stress prevention
​Frostbite is an injury caused by freezing the skin and underlying tissues. It can occur when the skin is exposed to extreme cold, including objects, especially metal ones.

Symptoms include:

• Inflammation of the skin, both with and without pain
​• Numbness, white blotches
​• Burning or prickling sensations resulting in blisters.

Hypothermia is when your core body temperature drops below 35°C. It occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it.

Symptoms include:

• Involuntary shivering.
​• Slurred speech, memory lapses, drowsiness and exhaustion.
​• Cool skin.
​• Irregular breathing.
​• It can result in eventual loss of consciousness that can be fatal.

Tips for employees
​• Avoid static, cramped positions when working in the cold.
​• Slow down your pace or exertion if you are sweating too much.
​• Dress for the weather and wear several light layers rather than one heavy layer. Base layers should be made of synthetic fabrics that wick moisture away from the skin. Cotton fabrics are not recommended as cotton loses its insulating properties when damp.
​• Drink warm, sweet drinks and soup. Avoid drinking coffee, tea or other caffeinated beverages because caffeine increases urination and blood pressure.
​• Avoid prolonged contact with cold surfaces like metallic objects, decks and poles.
​• Wear socks that are the right thickness for your boots. If the socks are too thick, the shoes will be tight, losing much of their insulating properties because they are compressed.
​• Wear loose-fitting mittens rather than fingered gloves at temperatures below -17 C to prevent reduced circulation.

Shovelling snow safely
​Use mechanical snow-removing equipment when available. When it is not, employees should focus on proper body mechanics when shoveling snow to reduce injuries such as muscle strains.

The following tips can be applied at work as well as at home:

• Warm up: Stretch your muscles before shoveling to prevent muscle strains, including arms, shoulders, legs and back.
​• Gear up: Wear insulated, non-slip footwear and proper clothing. Use a light shovel wherever possible.
​• Posture:
​  - Keep feet shoulder-width apart. The front foot should be close to the shovel.
​  - Put the weight on the front foot, use your leg to push the shovel and collect the snow.
​  - Keep your back straight.
​  - Shift weight to the rear foot and keep the load as close to the body as possible. Bend at the knees and lift with the legs, not the back. Push the snow and use your body weight. Avoid lifting wherever possible.
​  - Turn the feet in the direction the snow is thrown and avoid twisting at the waist.

• Take breaks: Take breaks to avoid overexertion.