2. Managing the Risk of Crashes Caused by Winter Conditions:
A presentation for companies that have employees who drive for work in winter conditions
This presentation has been developed for companies that operate fleet vehicles and / or have workers who drive their personal vehicle, either owned or leased, for work. (Fleet vehicles -- for the purposes of this presentation – includes vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 3856 kg and includes cars, vans, Class 1 and certain Class 2a light- duty trucks.)
Winter weather and road conditions create hazards for drivers. The purpose of this presentation is to provide information that will help company owners/employers, supervisors, and employees prepare for winter driving and manage the driving hazards caused by winter conditions.
Consider using this material during your company’s monthly safety meeting.
The reference notes provide additional information on the points raised in the presentation.

3. Overview Review crash statistics
Define responsibilities of owners/employers, supervisors, and employees
Describe how to manage risk of crashes caused by winter conditions
Learn where to find information, tools and resources on safe winter driving 3 3

4. Winter driving is hazardous
Motor-vehicle incidents (MVIs) are a leading cause of workplace deaths in BC
Each year, 1,258 workers are injured in MVIs and miss time from work1
More work-related vehicle crashes causing injuries occur between October and February. 1
Casualty crashes caused by driving too fast for conditions nearly double from 114 in October to over 222 in December2
1 WorkSafeBC
2 Police reported data, ‘Driving Too Fast for the Conditions’,
In BC, 20 workers die on the job every year in a motor vehicle crash making it the leading cause of traumatic workplace fatalities in the province. (Source: WorkSafeBC, BIA Datamart and ODW Snapshot )
The number of workers who are injured on the job and miss time from work due to motor vehicle crashes average 1,258 per year. (Source: WorkSafeBC, BIA Datamart and ODW Snapshot )
More work-related vehicle crashes causing injuries occur between October and February (source: WorkSafeBC)
From fall to winter, as the weather changes, the chance of being injured or killed in a crash dramatically increases.
BC winter driving season: October 1st – March 30.
The numbers below describe by region the number of crashes due to driving too fast for road conditions in the early winter months. Refer to your specific region below:
- Lower Mainland: Crashes increase 16 percent from about 51 in October to 59 in December.
- Northern Central: Crashes more than doubles from about 18 in October to 44 in December.
- Southern Interior: Crashes increases fourfold from about 23 in October to 93 in December.
- Vancouver Island: Crashes increases 19 per cent from about 22 in October to 26 in December.
(ICBC Casualty Crashes by Contributing Factor ‘Driving Too Fast for the Conditions’, Police data). 4 4

5. Everyone has responsibilities for safety
As an employer you must:
Ensure the health and safety of all your employees
Establish a safety program; take action to eliminate or minimize the risk of workplace injury
Ensure that your workers are made aware of workplace hazards (including work-related driving hazards)
Provide your workers with information, training, equipment, and supervision to follow safe work procedures
Remedy any hazardous workplace condition
(Depending on the size of the firm) support the joint OHS committee (JOHSC) or worker safety representative
Your Legal Obligations
B.C.’s Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulation set out the requirements and legal responsibilities of employers, supervisors and workers as they relate to workplace health and safety. When workers drive for work purposes their vehicle becomes their workplace, even if it is their personal vehicle.
The following slides describe some of the actions employer or supervisors need to take to ensure workers are safe when driving for work.
JOHSC / Worker Safety Representatives
The duties and functions of a joint committee and safety representative are set out in the Workers Compensation Act. 5 5

6. Everyone has responsibilities for safety
As a supervisor you must:
Ensure the health and safety of all workers under your direct supervision
Know the hazards associated with driving, the applicable regulations, and how to eliminate or minimize the risk of injury caused by the hazards
Ensure that workers under your supervision:
know the hazards and how to protect themselves
have the necessary training and equipment
follow safe work procedures and practices, and correct them when they don’t
Consult with the JOHSC / worker safety representative 6 6

7. Everyone has responsibilities for safety
Employees must:
Comply with company safety policies and safe work procedures
Report any unsafe work conditions or acts to their supervisor or employer
Cooperate with JOHSC / worker safety representative
When driving
Comply with the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act, Motor Vehicle Act Regulations and other applicable laws and statutes
Right to refuse unsafe work
Workers have the right (under Part 3 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation) to refuse unsafe work, if they believe that a work process would create a hazard to their health and safety, or the safety of their co-workers. (Visit for more information.)
For more information
If you have questions about workplace safety, call the WorkSafeBC Prevention Line at or toll-free within B.C. at SAFE (7233) or visit worksafebc.com. 7 7

8. Managing the risk of crashes
Vehicle preparation
For both company owned and personal vehicles used for work, ensure that vehicles are equipped for winter conditions.
Knowing how to drive for the conditions is crucial to increasing your safety on the road. But just as important is a work vehicle equipped to deal with the harsh elements. A few simple steps to winterize your ride could make a difference to your safety. 8 8

9. Managing the risk of crashes
Vehicle Preparation (cont’d)
Service vehicles before winter
Install four matched winter tires (look for the mountain and snowflake logo on the sidewall)
Install new winter wiper blades
Equip all vehicles with a winter-survival kit
Carry a cell phone (and charging cable)
Clear frost from all windows and snow / ice from all vehicle surfaces before starting the trip
Winter tires
Winter tires perform better than all-season tires in cold temperatures (+7°to -35°C), slush, snow and ice.
Winter tires should not be confused with Mud + Snow tires. A true winter tire has a mountain / snowflake symbol on its side wall.
Install winter tires at each wheel position; never mix winter tires with all-season tires
Winter tires give you greater control and allow you to stop sooner in cold weather.
Maintaining tire pressure in winter weather
Many vehicles have at least one under-inflated tire.
Tire pressure decreases as temperatures drop; check pressure at least once a month.
Measure tire pressure when the vehicle has been stationary for at least three hours or has not been driven more than 2 km.
Studded tires
A set of four studded tires can be used throughout the winter season
Studded tires are useful for driving on ice-covered surfaces
Refer to the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act for information on the use of studded tires. 9 9

10. Managing the risk of crashes
Driver preparation
Ensure employees:
Have the driving skills, knowledge and experience to drive in winter conditions
Know the company’s winter driving safe work procedures
Preparing for winter driving is key.
Be alert and attentive when you drive. The majority of vehicle crashes are a result of driver error. Causes can include the driver’s emotional or physical state, impairment, how drivers perceive risk, and /or work pressures.
If you are unfamiliar with driving in snow and icy conditions and your job requires you to be behind the wheel, ask your employer for winter driving training. Through training and practice, learn how to brake safely, how to get out of a skid, and how your car handles in winter weather.
Check the road conditions and weather forecasts before starting a trip.
Leave yourself lots of time so you are not rushing.
Avoid distractions - when you are behind the wheel, driving is your only job.
Wear clothing that allows you to move easily (have warm clothing on hand).
Consult the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation for the requirements on working alone or in isolation.
Understand how water, snow and ice can degrade the traction performance of your tires. When you slow down, you have more time to react to dangerous situations. 10 10

11. Managing the risk of crashes
Trip preparation
Look at different ways to conduct business to remove or reduce driving requirements
If trips need to made:
Check weather and road conditions
Plan route to avoid hazardous roads
Adjust schedule to allow for more travel time
Employers, supervisors, drivers and safety committees:
Consider ways in which to eliminate / reduce / manage road risk.
Is the risk worth it? Determine if winter driving is absolutely necessary.
Explore business alternatives (phone, , tele / video-conferencing, public transportation where available).
Postpone travel during adverse weather events
If you or your staff must drive, Know Before You Go:
- Always check weather / travel conditions before you drive:
DriveBC
Environment Canada
Online and broadcast media sources
- If you have to drive, drive smart:
Prepare yourself / your staff
Prepare your vehicle / your fleet vehicles
Drive for conditions 11 11

12. Managing the risk of crashes
On the road
Slow down: drop speed to match conditions
Maintain a safe following distance (the four-second rule)
Watch for / anticipate black ice (+4°C to -4°C)
Accelerate and brake slowly
Don’t use cruise control
Be visible: always drive with headlights on
Posted speed limits are for ideal road conditions.
Observe a four-second distance between yourself and the car in front of you.
Be careful of black ice, which forms between +4°C and -4°C. Black ice often develops on shaded areas of roads, bridges and overpasses. (Source: Transport Canada)
When starting and stopping on slick roads, start slowly and accelerate gradually.
When stopping, apply the brakes gently and slowly add pressure.
Avoid skidding by driving at speeds safe for the conditions. Avoid quick movements.
If you start to skid, ease off the brake or accelerator and look -- and steer -- smoothly in the direction you want to go.
Be seen! Visibility is often critical during poor weather conditions, including rain. 12 12

13. Tools & Resources Employer Toolkit 13
Winter Driving Tool kit for employers and supervisors
Available on ShiftintoWinter.ca. It includes an easy step-by-step guide to pull together a winter safe driving program.
Before Winter - Do you have a bit of time to prepare? It’s never too early. Get a head start so you’re not scrambling. In this section of the toolkit you will find more information on preparing your workplace, trip planning, as well as vehicle and worker preparation.
During Winter - Has winter arrived? This section of the toolkit outlines what you can do right now.
Eliminate whatever trips you can. Can meetings be held online or via conference call? Can the work be delayed or re-scheduled?
If your workers must drive, plan and schedule trips. When is the safest time to drive? Which routes have fewer hazards?
Check weather conditions regularly – every day, or every hour as conditions dictate
After Winter - Learn from the past winter season, plan and prepare for next winter. 13 13 13

14. Tools & Resources Tip sheets 14
Shift into Winter Information Materials
Tip sheets have been developed to help you stay safe on the roads this winter.
Each sheet has information related to different areas of preparation:
Preparing yourself
Preparing your vehicle 14 14

15. Tools & Resources Tip sheets (cont’d) 15 15 15
Shift into Winter: More Tip Sheets
Driving for the conditions
Information and tips for workers 15 15 15

16. Tools & Resources Tip sheets (cont’d) 16
Shift into Winter: More Tip Sheets
What Employers Need to Know
What Supervisors Need to Know 16 16 16

17. Tools & Resources Tip sheets (cont’d) 17 17 17
Shift into Winter: More Tip Sheets
And, a tip sheet for truckers.
Share this information with your employees, co-workers, family and friends.
PDFs available at ShiftintoWinter.ca, so you can download and print them easily. 17 17 17

18. Tools & Resources Winter Driving Survival Checklist 18 18
Shift into Winter: Information Materials
A survival checklist of all the items drivers should carry in their vehicles when travelling in winter conditions.
A vehicle safety kit should include the following:
Approved high-visibility vest
Windshield scraper and snow brush
Extra windshield washer fluid
Flares and matches or a lighter
Tire chains and gloves
First aid kit
Shovel and traction mat, sand or kitty litter
Flashlight and extra batteries
Battery jumper cables
Spare tire
Extra clothing and footwear 18 18

19. Tools & Resources Websites ShiftIntoWinter.ca DriveBC.ca
RoadSafetyAtWork.com
WorkSafeBC.com
ICBC.com
WeatherOffice.gc.ca
tc.gc.ca 19 19

20. Disclaimer
This presentation does not take the place of professional occupational health and safety advice and is not guaranteed to meet the requirements of applicable laws, regulations, and rules, including workplace health and safety laws and motor vehicle and traffic laws. The members of the Winter Driving Safety Alliance and their respective employees, officers, directors or agents (collectively “WDSA”) assume no liability for or responsibility for any loss or damage suffered or incurred by any person arising from or in any way connected with the use of or reliance upon the information contained in this presentation including, without limitation, any liability for loss or damage arising from the negligence or negligent misrepresentation of any of the WDSA in any way connected with the information contained in this presentation. The information provided in this presentation is provided on an “as is” basis. The WDSA does not guarantee, warrant, or make any representation as to the quality, accuracy, completeness, timeliness, appropriateness, or suitability of any of the information provided, and disclaims all statutory or other warranties, terms, or obligations of any kind arising from the use of or reliance upon the information provided, and assumes no obligation to update the information provided or advise on future developments concerning the topics mentioned. 20 20

21. Questions?
Questions? 21