Your Spring Workplace Safety Checklist: 8 Things to Reset Before the Busy Season

Winter has a way of putting safety on the back burner. Equipment sits idle. Seasonal workers haven't started yet. Things feel manageable. Then April hits. Suddenly, your crew is back outside, your equipment is running again, and your busiest months are right in front of you.

It's also when injuries climb. Spring brings new hires, thawing ground, dusty equipment that hasn't been inspected since October, and the kind of overconfidence that comes from a quiet few months. For Delaware employers in construction, agriculture, landscaping, and general industry, this is the reset moment that actually matters.

Here are eight things to address before the busy season shifts into full gear.

1. Inspect All Equipment That Sat Through Winter

Cold weather is hard on machinery. Seals crack. Fluids settle. Hydraulic lines can develop slow leaks that don't show up until the equipment is under load. Before your crew operates any piece of heavy equipment that's been dormant, it needs a full pre-season inspection, not just a visual once-over.

Specific things to check:

• Fluid levels (hydraulic, engine oil, coolant)
• Tire pressure and condition
• Brake function and emergency stops
• Safety guards and shields
• Operator visibility (mirrors, cameras, windows)

For forklifts and powered industrial trucks, OSHA requires a documented inspection before each shift. Spring startup is a good time to reinforce that habit.

2. Re-Onboard Returning Seasonal Workers

Seasonal employees who were with you last year are not new hires, but they're also not current. A lot changes over winter: procedures get updated, equipment moves, new hazards emerge. A returning worker who assumes everything is the same as when they left is a risk.

Run a quick re-onboarding session before returning seasonal staff resume full duties. Cover:

• Any changes to equipment, layout, or procedures since last season
• Emergency exits and assembly points (especially if your facility changed)
• Updated PPE requirements
• Who to report hazards to

Thirty minutes now can prevent weeks of downtime later.

3. Conduct a Full Hazard Walk

Walk your facility or job site with fresh eyes. Winter creates hazards that are easy to miss: frost-heaved pavement, drainage issues that create pooling water near entrances, storage that shifted when the ground moved. Things that looked fine in October may not look fine now.

Do this walk with a supervisor or safety lead and document what you find. Some items will be quick fixes. Others will need to be scheduled. Either way, you want to know about them before an employee does. The hard way is never the better option.

4. Update Your Emergency Action Plan

If your EAP hasn't been reviewed since last year, spring is the right time. Check that:

• Contact information for emergency responders is current
• Your team knows the designated assembly points
• Any new employees are included in your communication plan
• Your first aid supplies are stocked and not expired

OSHA requires that covered employers have a written EAP and that employees know what to do in an emergency. A quick review takes less than an hour and keeps you compliant.

5. Check Your PPE Inventory

PPE doesn't last forever. Hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, and respirators all have service lives, and a winter in storage does not extend them.

Before your crew needs it, audit your PPE supply:

• Check hard hats for cracks, dents, or UV degradation (the inside rim often shows wear before the shell does)
• Inspect harnesses for fraying, corrosion on hardware, or worn stitching
• Replace disposable respirators that have been stored loosely or exposed to moisture
• Restock gloves and safety glasses based on current headcount

Order what you need before the season starts. Supply delays are common in spring.

6. Review Your Fall Protection Setup

Fall protection is OSHA's number one cited violation, for the 14th consecutive year. Spring is when fall hazards re-emerge: roofing work begins, scaffolding goes up, ladders come out of storage. If your fall protection equipment or procedures haven't been reviewed since last fall, do it now.

Specific actions:

• Inspect all fall protection harnesses, lanyards, and anchor points
• Confirm workers have been trained on proper harness fit and inspection
• Check that guardrails on elevated platforms are secure after any winter settling
• Review your procedures for working at heights near skylights, edges, and floor openings

7. Address Outdoor Heat Planning Early

May feels early to think about heat. It isn't. Heat illness planning takes time to implement. You need to establish shade access, hydration stations, modified scheduling for hot days, and an acclimatization plan for workers who haven't been active outdoors all winter.

OSHA's heat emphasis program has been active, and Delaware employers in construction, agriculture, and landscaping are among those most closely watched. Getting your heat illness prevention program in writing before summer starts puts you ahead of the risk and ahead of any regulatory scrutiny.

8. Schedule Your SafeDE Consultation

If it's been more than a year since a safety expert walked your facility, spring is the right time to schedule it. SafeDE's free, confidential on-site consultations are designed exactly for this moment: before your busiest season begins, not after something goes wrong.

A SafeDE consultant will walk your facility with you, identify hazards you may have missed, and give you a written report with practical recommendations. No citations. No fines. No follow-up from OSHA. Just expert guidance from people who want your business to succeed.

Schedule your free spring consultation at worksafe.delaware.gov/consultation