United Kingdom
Canada
05 March 2026
Winter brings its own unique risks and hazards but careful maintenance and risk management can help prevent property damage and/injury.
Slips and trips
Snow and ice can cause slips and trips. You may be legally bound to to guard against these, particularly if you are an employer.
Take sensible precautions where necessary. They might include gritting, snow clearance and closure of some access routes – especially if these are on outside stairs, ladders or walkways on roofs.
Tips to help protect staff, volunteers and the public
- Treat paths and walkways with salt or grit before nightfall or early morning before people arrive.
- Monitor the condition of the paths regularly, it’s easier to move snow when it’s fresh and loose.
- Never use water to melt ice and snow as it may refreeze and turn to black ice. Black ice is invisible and very slippery.
- Take care not to block drains when shovelling snow.
Employers can find specific information about slips, trips and falls on the HSA website
Water leaks and burst pipes
Water leaks and burst pipes can do a lot of damage, especially if they go unnoticed for long periods of time. We have fin-depth advice on how to detect water leaks, handle a burst pipe or prevent frozen pipes.
- How to prevent burst pipes
- Water leak detection.
Temporary heaters
Don't use portable heaters unless you have to. If it's the only option, we recommend electric convection or oil filled heaters, with thermostatic cut-outs, which turn off if they overheat
Never use electric radiant heaters and paraffin/oil fired heaters, even as a temporary measure. They work by emitting heat from an element or flame and pose a significant fire risk.
Temporary heater safety tips:
- Don't leave temporary heaters unattended for long periods
- Turn off any temporary heaters when the building is unoccupied
- Place heaters away from combustible items
- Protect the heater from being knocked over
- Temporary heaters should never be moved when switched on.
- Only plug temporary heaters into main sockets - never extension plugs or cables
Home over the holidays? – Here's how to look after an empty property
Empty properties can attract thieves and vandals. Equally, a burst pipe is likely to go unnoticed for longer in an empty building, increasing the likelihood of major damage.
To reduce these risks see our vacant property security and protection which helps identify and mitigate threats to vacant property.
A vacant property service company can also help you minimise these risks, providing risk management and security solutions for empty property.