Which Ice Cleat is Right For You?

Winter brings snow, freezing rain, and sleet. Being prepared for winter weather could save you time, money, and unneeded injury. When conditions deteriorate, are you considering your safety during all day on the job site or even regular transitions from point A to point B?

Having the right pair of ice cleats greatly increases your odds of staying upright. Most ice cleats work to some degree, but there can be big differences in how well and reliably they work. More than one type of ice cleat may be needed for different situations or job functions. When trying to find the right ice cleat, it’s far more effective to start by focusing on your job tasks rather than the differences between various ice cleats.

Selecting Your Type of Ice Cleat

According to the Winterwalking.com website, there are three common categories of ice cleats.

Working Traction

The most aggressive ice cleats for all-day use on ice and snow. These are good for employees who have the most exposure to icy and snowy conditions. They are built for aggressive traction and durability.

Transitional Traction

These do not need to be taken off indoors. These are designed for people who frequently transition from outdoor to indoor settings or drive vehicles.

Walking Traction

Ideal for employees who are asked to walk outside on ice and snow but do not spend their entire day working outside. They are lightweight and easy to put on and take off.

Related: Ways to Avoid Frost Bite & Hypothermia

The IMT Loss Control Department has a variety of safety resources available on a wide range of topics (including winter safety) to help reduce both exposure and injuries. Please contact your IMT agent if you think you think could benefit from a visit with our loss control professionals.

Verify Proper Coverage Is in Place for Your Company Car

Many employers provide employees company cars. It is either told or assumed by the employee that insurance issues are covered by the employer. But commercial auto insurance policies are different than personal auto insurance policies. How can you en…

Common Types of Employee Fraud & How to Prevent It

It is estimated that organizations lose five percent of revenue to fraud each year, according to the 2022 Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Report to the Nations study. With billions of dollars lost each year, employee fraud is costly. Below …

Running a Home-based Business? Revise Your Homeowners Policy

Home-based businesses are becoming increasingly common, especially with increased access to technology. Running business out of your home can be convenient and full of opportunity. But did you know it also changes the loss exposures and characterist…

Protect Your Small Business from Cyber Risks

We live in an online world, which includes more unanticipated risks that comes with being connected. Cyber risks like ransomware and email “phishing” are just a click away, and they’re not going away anytime soon. Small and medium-sized businesses a…

Why Your Small Business Needs a Safety Program

The size of your business does not impact the need to make safety a top priority for your organization. It could be argued that the smaller the business the more important safety becomes. The average cost for all claims combined for accidents that o…

March is National Ladder Safety Month

They are everywhere and chances are you've used one. From changing out a lightbulb to getting on top of a roof, ladders are a common piece of equipment used in almost every home or building and appear to be harmless. But thousands of people are kill…

What's Your Risk of Being Sued?

Some businesses and individuals have a higher loss exposure to lawsuits. This tendency is often referred to as a suability factor. How suable you are can be determined by examining the following:

Growth of business size
Wealth indicators including rea…