BlueSafe

Snow and Ice Removal Cold Weather Safety Risk Assessment

This risk assessment covers snow and ice removal activities in cold-weather conditions, including planning, access, equipment use and incident response.

Activities covered include

  • Assess weather, visibility, site conditions and emergency arrangements
  • Manage cold exposure, wind chill, fatigue and reduced performance
  • Respond to cold illness, injuries, collisions and deteriorating weather

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Acceptance guaranteed

If your client or principal requests changes during document review, BlueSafe will help revise the document at no extra cost and support resubmission until it is accepted.

Snow and Ice Removal Cold Weather Safety Risk Assessment
  • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
  • Pre-filled Content - Ready to Deploy Immediately
  • Customisable - Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Product Overview

This risk assessment covers snow and ice removal activities in cold-weather conditions, including planning, access, equipment use and incident response. It supports planning and management of slip, traffic, cold exposure, chemical, electrical, height and communication risks.

Activities & Risks Covered

This assessment addresses activities and risks including:

  • Assess weather, visibility, site conditions and emergency arrangements
  • Manage access routes, walkways and interactions with pedestrians
  • Remove snow and ice using manual methods
  • Use plant, vehicles and powered equipment in icy conditions
  • Work near roads, car parks and traffic areas
  • Manage cold exposure, wind chill, fatigue and reduced performance
  • Handle and apply de-icing products
  • Use electrical equipment, leads and temporary lighting in wet conditions
  • Work near elevated surfaces, edges and concealed hazards
  • Respond to cold illness, injuries, collisions and deteriorating weather

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out snow or ice removal activities.

Activities & Hazards Covered

Activity Potential Hazards
Pre-start planning and weather assessment
  • Starting work in unsafe snow, ice, wind or low-visibility conditions
  • Unidentified ground conditions, hidden edges, drains, steps or unstable surfaces
  • Workers not understanding the day’s hazards, boundaries or emergency arrangements
Site access, walkways and public interface
  • Slips, trips and same-level falls on snow, black ice, slush or wet surfaces
  • Pedestrians or other workers entering untreated or active work areas
  • Poor lighting affecting safe access before daylight or after dark
Manual snow and ice removal
  • Musculoskeletal injuries from shovelling, pushing, lifting and repetitive work
  • Strains from heavy, compacted or waterlogged snow
  • Slips or loss of balance while applying force on uneven or icy ground
Use of plant, vehicles and powered equipment
  • Collision with pedestrians, structures or other vehicles
  • Loss of control due to ice, reduced traction or poor visibility
  • Contact with moving parts or unsafe plant use
Working near roads, car parks and traffic areas
  • Workers struck by vehicles on icy or congested surfaces
  • Vehicles skidding into work areas
  • Drivers not seeing workers due to snowfall, darkness or glare
Cold exposure, wind chill and worker wellbeing
  • Cold stress, hypothermia or reduced physical and mental performance
  • Numbness reducing grip, balance and reaction time
  • Fatigue from prolonged exposure and heavy physical effort
De-icing products and chemical handling
  • Skin or eye irritation from salts or de-icing agents
  • Incorrect product use creating slip hazards, equipment damage or harmful exposure
  • Spills or over-application affecting workers and surrounding areas
Electrical equipment, cords and temporary lighting
  • Electric shock from damaged leads, wet connections or unsuitable outdoor equipment
  • Trips from leads crossing access routes
  • Fire or equipment failure from incorrect use in snow or wet conditions
Working at height, edges and elevated surfaces
  • Falls from ladders, roofs, platforms, steps or elevated access ways
  • Snow or ice concealing edges, skylights or fragile surfaces
  • Dropped tools or ice striking persons below
Emergency response and incident management
  • Delayed response to cold illness, injury, collision or fall
  • Workers becoming stranded or unable to communicate in deteriorating weather
  • Inadequate first aid for hypothermia, slips, strains or vehicle incidents

Need to tailor this risk assessment?

Use the BlueSafe Portal to add site-specific activities, hazards, controls, responsibilities and review details before the assessment is put into use.

Acceptance Guaranteed: If your client or principal requests changes during document review, BlueSafe will help revise the document at no extra cost and support resubmission until it is accepted.

Legislation & References

The template records model guidance used to inform the documented controls. Applicable WHS/OHS laws and adopted Codes vary by state or territory, so confirm the current local requirements when tailoring the assessment:

  • Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities — 2. The work environment; p. 13.
  • Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of fatigue at work — Provide sufficient breaks while at work; p. 30.
  • Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing electrical risks in the workplace — 2.1 Identifying the hazards; p. 14.
  • Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace — 2.2 Safety Data Sheets (SDS); p. 16.
  • Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: First aid in the workplace — 3. First aid equipment, facilities and training; p. 12.
  • Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks — 5. Step 4 — How to review controls; p. 27.
  • Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Work health and safety consultation, cooperation and coordination — 3. What is effective consultation?; p. 13.
  • Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks — 4.1 The hierarchy of control measures; p. 31.
  • Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace — 4.1 Guarding plant; p. 39.
Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)
  • Activity-specific hazard identification and control measures
  • Initial and residual risk ratings
  • Assigned responsible persons for each activity
  • Risk matrix and assessment classification
  • Review, monitoring and sign-off fields
  • Site-specific customisation before use

Suitable for Industries

Building and ConstructionTransport and LogisticsWarehousing and DistributionCommercial Cleaning

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