Safe operation of buildings during the winter period

Purpose The article presents legal regulations and principles for the safe operation of buildings in winter and proposes a procedure for clearing snow from flat roofs. Findings The Construction Law regulates the activities involving building design, construction, maintenance, and demolition and defines the operation principles of public administration bodies in these areas. Research limitations/implications The safety of buildings in the winter requires specialist knowledge and special care on the part of managers, employers, persons managing employees, and employees performing work related to their safe operation. Practical implications The safe removal of snow from flat roofs requires adequate legal knowledge, skills, training, and experience on the part of employers, managers, and workers. The employer's most important obligations to employees in the case of snow clearance work on flat roofs (tantamount to work at height) include providing them with protective equipment appropriate to their position and tasks, with collective protective equipment. The employer is obliged to ensure that persons who carry out work at height are assisted by other employees who do not carry out such work directly. The employer should also ensure that workers receive instruction, taking into account, in particular, the personal division of work, the sequence of tasks to be performed, and the health and safety rules necessary for the various activities. It is also necessary to establish supervision of work at height. Originality/value Employees carrying out snow clearing should have a current height examination and hold a valid (current) medical certificate of no contraindication to work at height. The employee must also receive health and safety training prior to working at height, as well as an introduction to the specifics of the job, know the potential hazards and risks, and learn to use the personal protective equipment required for the job properly.