This is the first of an occasional note focusing on health and safety. “Keeping ourselves safe” is for everyone who receives our regular updates to help focus on safety in our parishes, workplaces and homes.

Winter is starting to take hold and with this comes the usual ice, snow and other things that make moving around more difficult. As we get older, we are more prone to slips and falls, and sometimes our homes and parish facilities can literally "trip us up". In the South, weather conditions can be very changeable and we can get “caught out” at times.

Here are some tips you may find useful

If you are traveling, make sure you find out about your local weather and road conditions. The New Zealand Land Transport Agency (NZTA) have a webpage where you can look for any problems with transport routes and you may want to check out your local authority websites which will have local information and web cameras showing what conditions are like. The NZ Meteorological office also has up to date weather warnings for where you live. Save any useful sites you find in your favourites/bookmarks on your computer or device.

Make sure when you set off that:

• Someone knows where you are going and what time you are expected back
•  You have essential supplies in the car e.g. some emergency food, warm clothing, portable first aid kit
• You have something for scraping off ice from windows (you may be able to get a free ice scraper from your local authority)
• You have water in your windscreen reserve (and an additive if you are likely to be in very cold conditions)
• You have plenty of fuel
• You take a mobile phone with you
• You have something you can put on your shoes if you encounter black ice when getting into or exiting your car (go on-line to find out where you can purchase “Yaktraks”, or you can use an old pair of socks over your shoes).

Do not attempt to drive anywhere if conditions are hazardous and there have been warnings or cautions given by various authorities.

If your parish has particular issues with ice in the winter months, you may already have a plan in place to cancel or postpone events if things are particularly hazardous. There may also be some local services who can help with putting things right. For example in the Dunedin area, Cleena Drives Paths and Patios offer a service for ice protection work that costs around $1 per square meter per week (contact Jeff Chesney, 027 291 9939, cleenadunedin@gmail.com . (Please note the Diocese is not endorsing this contractor, contact details provided for your information)

Health and Safety

The Diocesan Website has a Health and Safety area with useful templates for parishes, but also information that any of us will find helpful. It is based on resources from the InterChurch Bureau, the full range of templates are here.

One that you (and your Parish) may be particularly interested in at this time of year is the Safe Driving Policy. Although this is directed at situations where people are using work (including church) provided vehicles, it is relevant to any person who might be using a vehicle on any parish related activity – for example, transporting people to events or pastoral contact. Ask your parish Wardens/Vestry members if this is covered in your health and safety policies.

Some useful websites for drivers

The Road Code

Driving Road Rules and Safety

Driving in New Zealand

Driving and dealing with hazards

Four ways to be a safer driver