Winter Driving
What essential supplies should every vehicle carry during a Saskatchewan winter?
A winter emergency kit containing blankets, flashlight, food, water, shovel and other emergency supplies.
What is the recommended way to dress when working outdoors in freezing temperatures?
Wear multiple layers of clothing.
How many points of contact should you maintain when climbing into or out of equipment?
Three points of contact.
What number should you call for a life-threatening emergency?
911
What is an incident called when something almost causes an injury but nobody gets hurt?
A near miss.
What is the name for a thin, nearly invisible layer of ice that forms on roadways?
Black ice.
What type of material is generally better than cotton for a winter base layer?
Wool or moisture-wicking synthetic fabric.
What should you do when you discover an icy entrance or walkway at work?
Warn others, report the hazard, and arrange for the area to be treated or isolated.
Name two essential supplies to have available during a winter power outage.
Flashlight, batteries, blankets, drinking water, non-perishable food or battery-powered radio.
What should you do when you notice an uncontrolled hazard in your workplace?
Protect yourself and others from immediate danger, then report the hazard and follow corrective-action procedures.
Name three things you should check before operating a vehicle in winter.
Tires, lights, fluid levels, windshield wipers, brakes, and clear windows.
What is the medical term for an injury caused when skin and underlying tissues freeze?
Frostbite.
What winter walking technique involves taking short, flat-footed steps to reduce the risk of slipping?
The penguin walk.
What should you do if you discover a downed electrical power line?
Stay well away, keep others clear and contact the utility or emergency services. Never touch the line.
Why should you never use your hands to clear a jammed snowblower?
Moving components can retain stored energy and cause serious injury, even after the engine is turned off.
What should you do if visibility becomes dangerously poor while driving in a blizzard?
Pull over in a safe location away from traffic, stop driving and wait out the storm.
Name three warning signs of hypothermia.
Shivering, confusion, slurred speech, clumsiness, drowsiness or loss of coordination.
Why can wearing ice cleats indoors create an additional safety hazard?
Some ice cleats can slip on smooth indoor flooring.
Why should a portable generator never be operated inside a building or attached garage?
It produces carbon monoxide, which can cause fatal poisoning.
What should an employee do if they believe a winter-related work task is unusually dangerous?
Stop the unsafe task, move to safety, notify their supervisor.
Why is it dangerous to run a vehicle's engine when its exhaust pipe is blocked by snow?
Carbon monoxide can build up inside the vehicle and cause fatal poisoning.
A coworker is confused, extremely cold and showing signs of severe hypothermia. What should you do?
Call 911, move them gently to shelter, remove wet clothing if practical, and gradually warm their torso while awaiting emergency assistance.
A walkway repeatedly freezes despite being salted. What should be investigated to prevent future incidents?
The underlying cause, such as poor drainage, melting and refreezing, or water accumulation.
Severe winter weather makes travel to work unsafe. What should an employee do?
Follow the City's severe-weather procedures, notify their supervisor, and avoid unnecessary hazardous travel.
A City of Melville employee becomes stranded in a municipal vehicle during a severe Saskatchewan blizzard. Visibility is nearly zero, temperatures are dangerously cold, and help may take several hours to arrive.
Name FOUR actions the employee should take to improve their chances of staying safe until help arrives.
Contact 911 if in immediate danger, or notify supervisor and provide their location.
Stay with the vehicle if it is safe to do so.
Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow before running the engine.
Use emergency blankets and extra clothing to conserve body heat.
Conserve cellphone battery.
Make the vehicle visible to rescuers without exposing themselves to unnecessary danger.