It’s winter time and we all know about the British weather, it could be anything from cold, wet, stormy or even snowy. For tradesmen this means exposure to seasonal harm, especially when working outside. Rhino Trade Insurance have put together a few tips below to help you keep safe when working in the unpredictable British weather!

1. Correct clothing

With weather warnings about, its important to be in the right work gear especially if it is bitter cold, as this could increase risk of hypothermia. Looking for affordable winter clothing, including thermals, waterproof and padded jackets, anti-grip gloves and fleeces is a key to tackling the weather and keeping warm.

To avoid bumps and falls a good pair of boots with the right grip will help with wet and icy surfaces. Oh, and don’t forget your high visibility vests, especially when working in the dark!

2. Prep up your van

As well as preparing yourself, it is also important to have your van or car prepared too. In case of ice and snow, it’s always good to have extra supplies with you wherever you intend to travel to.

Here’s a few things take along for the ride:

- De-icers

- Windscreen scraper

- Tyre grip, Tyre pressure, wheel ice

- Flash lights

- Jumper cables

- Snack foods and water

- Full check of vehicles

- Extra clothes, especially if working in the dark, later nights get colder

3. Get the right Tradesman Insurance

Having the correct insurance policy is crucial as in a worst-case scenario where something bad were to happen, the right policy can help to get you back up and on your feet.

Don’t worry, this is where we can come to the rescue, our Public Liability Insurance Policy is what you need. In a situation where an accident did happen, we’d have you covered if your client or a member of the public suffers an injury or damage to their property which was your fault. Our policy will pay out for the legal expenses and compensation owed by your business (up to your chosen level of cover).

If you have any employees or subcontractors who are working for you under your direction, you may also need Employer’s Liability Insurance. This policy will cover for injury/death of an employee whilst performing duties for your business and may be a legal requirement depending on your circumstances.

We also offer tradesman tools insurance so if something was to happen to your tools in the weather, if they get damaged or stolen.

Find out more about our Public Liability Insurance Policy and to see what other policies we have

4. Adjust your work schedule

In winter, it gets darker outside earlier which makes it more difficult to see things, so it probably isn’t the best idea to have a lot of jobs on in the dark.

It may be worth changing your work schedule so that all appointments of work which involve being outside are done during the day so it’s lighter and try to schedule jobs that involve more indoor work in the night time. This way you are protected from any potential accidents that could occur, which could also cause injuries.

5. Taking regular breaks

Taking breaks as often as possible is crucial to keeping warm. Breaks give you fuel power to keep going.

Staying hydrated and drinking lots of water is a must. But also, hot liquids such as tea’s, coffees and soup can also help keep you warm. Snack foods are also a good source of energy and fuel for your body to produce more heat to keep going in the cold weather.

We hope you can all keep warm and soldier through the bad weather this winter! Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry.