Winter Weather Slip/Trip/Fall Transcript

With winter weather there comes snow, ice, sleet, and other slippery surfaces that pose a risk to DAs while delivering packages. That’s why Amazon has made a significant investment to provide you with personal protective equipment, and other items such as snow shovels, windshield frost guard covers, roadside emergency kits, flashlights, ice scrapers, and snow brushes.

Amazon also understands the risk weather poses and has a team monitoring weather conditions, down to the Delivery Station, to adjust operations in order to keep you safe and give you time in your day so you can go slower and rest as needed.

We also want to provide you with relevant tips to stay safe when encountering slippery surfaces. These tips will focus on walking using the marching technique, proper footwear, and safe delivery practices.

First and most importantly, never jog or run when making a delivery, especially when there is snow and ice on the ground. Instead, walk slowly and use the marching technique, as it has been proven to keep adults upright on slippery surfaces!

The marching technique starts with ensuring your head is over your shoulders, your shoulders are over your hips, your hips are over your ankles, and your head is up with your eyes looking forward.

Pick a target ahead of you in your walk path, as you walk to the target begin making small marching half steps at a slow and steady pace with a full flat foot. Keep your head looking forward and scan your path of travel looking for any obstructions. If necessary, stop walking to ensure your pathway is still clear before proceeding. Do not look directly down at your feet. Your arms and hands should be at your side and your hands should NOT be in your pockets. If you are carrying a package, keep that package in your power zone and close to your body.

Next, always wear slip-resistant, closed toe, closed heel shoes. Slip-resistant shoes have rubber soles and tread patterns that are designed to grip slippery surfaces and help reduce the risk of a slip, trip, or fall.

If you are in an area where you need to wear shoe grips or ice cleats over your slip-resistant shoes, work with your DSP so that you can be prepared for your day.

Finally, when getting in or out of the vehicle, or going up or down customers’ steps, be extremely cautious, look for uneven surfaces or steps outside the vehicle, and always use 3-points of contact. This means at all times 2 hands and 1 foot, or 2 feet and 1 hand is in contact with a solid surface like a step or handrail. If you are carrying a package and exiting the vehicle, bend at the knees, place the package on the floor out of your walk path, and then use 3-points of contact to exit the vehicle. Once on the ground, fully turn your body around, making sure not to twist, and pick up the package.

On the walk to and from the delivery point, use the marching technique and continuously scan the area looking for slick surfaces, objects that may be obscured by snow or additional trip hazards. Even if the area has been shoveled, it can refreeze, creating more icy spots.

So, let’s recap. In slippery winter weather conditions, it is important to use the marching technique, wear slip resistant, closed toe, and closed heel shoes, and use 3-points of contact when making a delivery.

Remember your safety is our top priority! If at any time you do not feel safe making a delivery, you should contact your DSP and return to station.