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Home›Courses›Safety Training›General Safety: Icy Conditions

General Safety: Icy Conditions

17 minutesEN / ESSafety TrainingOSHA General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)), 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D
Quick Answer

General Safety: Icy Conditions is a 17-minute online course that trains employees to identify and prevent slip, trip, and fall hazards associated with ice and snow in the workplace. It is designed for employees in any industry who work in or travel through outdoor environments during winter weather, and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Slips, trips, and falls are the second leading cause of workplace fatalities in the United States and caused nearly 480,000 nonfatal injuries requiring days away from work in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Winter weather dramatically increases these risks - approximately one million Americans are injured from slips and falls on ice or snow each year, with some resulting in traumatic brain injuries, hip fractures, and spinal cord damage. OSHA's General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act) requires employers to maintain workplaces free from recognized hazards, including icy walking and working surfaces. Fall-related violations topped OSHA's most-cited list for the 15th consecutive year in FY 2025.

This course trains your employees to recognize common icy condition hazards and take practical steps to avoid injury. Your team will learn safe walking techniques for icy surfaces, proper footwear selection, vehicle entry and exit procedures in winter conditions, and how to minimize injury if a fall does occur. The training also covers hazard awareness around snow-covered overhangs, traffic areas with reduced vehicle traction, and building entry points where tracked-in moisture creates indoor slip hazards.

What You'll Learn

  • Identifying common slip, trip, and fall hazards caused by ice, frost, and packed snow on walking surfaces
  • Safe walking techniques for icy conditions, including stride length, pace, and center of gravity management
  • Proper footwear selection with adequate traction for winter conditions, including insulated and water-resistant options
  • Vehicle entry and exit safety in icy parking lots and on snow-covered running boards
  • Recognizing overhead hazards from icicles, snow accumulation, and ice dams on rooflines
  • Minimizing injury during a fall by protecting the head, relaxing the body, and avoiding outstretched arms

Who Needs This Training

  • Outdoor maintenance, grounds crew, and landscaping workers exposed to icy conditions
  • Delivery drivers and route workers who walk on customer properties in winter weather
  • Warehouse and loading dock employees working near open bay doors during cold weather
  • Office and retail employees who traverse parking lots and sidewalks to enter the workplace
  • Supervisors and facility managers responsible for winter weather safety planning
  • Municipal and public works employees performing outdoor duties in freezing conditions

Regulatory Background

While no single OSHA standard is dedicated exclusively to icy conditions, OSHA's General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act) requires employers to keep workplaces free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm. OSHA's Walking-Working Surfaces standard (29 CFR 1910 Subpart D) requires employers to ensure that walking and working surfaces are maintained in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition, which includes addressing ice and snow accumulation. Fall protection violations were the single most-cited OSHA standard in FY 2025, with 5,914 citations under 29 CFR 1926.501 alone. Slips, trips, and falls caused nearly 480,000 nonfatal injuries requiring days away from work in 2024 according to BLS data. Employers who fail to address known icy condition hazards face serious violation penalties up to $16,550 per incident.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. OSHA can cite employers under the General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)) for failing to address recognized icy condition hazards on their premises. OSHA has also cited employers under the Walking-Working Surfaces standard (29 CFR 1910 Subpart D) for failing to maintain walking surfaces in safe condition. Employers are expected to implement reasonable measures such as salting, sanding, snow removal, and providing adequate warnings to employees about icy surfaces.
The most common injuries from falls on ice include fractures (especially hip, wrist, and ankle), sprains and strains, contusions, and back injuries. More severe outcomes include traumatic brain injuries from striking the head during a fall and spinal cord injuries from the impact of landing. Approximately one million Americans are injured from ice and snow-related slips and falls each year, and some of these injuries result in chronic conditions including ongoing pain, migraines, and memory impairment.
OSHA's PPE standards (29 CFR 1910.132) require employers to provide personal protective equipment when workplace hazards require it, at no cost to employees. If a hazard assessment determines that slip-resistant or insulated footwear is necessary to protect employees from icy conditions, the employer must provide or pay for that footwear. Many employers issue slip-on traction devices or require specific boot types as part of their winter safety program.
Employers should implement a documented winter weather safety program that includes regular snow and ice removal, application of de-icing materials, monitoring of weather forecasts, and employee training on safe winter walking practices. Documenting these efforts - including snow removal schedules, inspection logs, and training records - helps demonstrate due diligence. Posting warning signs at entrances, providing floor mats to capture tracked-in moisture, and establishing indoor wet-floor protocols further reduce both injury risk and liability exposure.
OSHA does not prescribe a specific seasonal training mandate for icy conditions, but the agency expects employers to train employees on recognized workplace hazards as part of their general safety program. This course addresses the hazard recognition and prevention elements that support compliance with OSHA's General Duty Clause. Employers should supplement this training with site-specific procedures, including their facility's snow removal schedule, de-icing protocols, and designated safe walkways.

Related Courses

Employers preparing their workforce for seasonal hazards often pair this course with Winter Weather: Employee Safety for broader cold-weather preparedness and Slips, Trips and Falls to cover year-round walking surface hazards that go beyond winter conditions.

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$24.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$24.95
10 - 24$19.95
25 - 49$17.95
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $24.95
Language

This course is available in English and Spanish at no additional charge.

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

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$24.95
per person