Winter’s approach means snow, sometimes loads of it. Insurance companies as well as business owners realize good and well that the white mess contributes to liability risks. Commercial institutions that have an efficient maintenance plan in place successfully prevent falls and any other related accident from occurring.
The following list pinpoints areas that demand the most snow clearing care.
Snow Clean Tips from the Insurance Pros
Prepare your doorways for customer and employee entrance and exits.
• Place a non-skid ‘welcome mat’ at each doorway. Not only does this prevent slips and falls at the entrance, it should also help dry off the shoes’ soles so that no one will be tracking in moisture from snow and leading cause of slippery floors, as well as insurance claims, not to mention lawsuit headache and compensation!
• Purchase a mat that is designed to shoulder climate hazards of your area. Rubber mats work the best. Inspect the mat for uniformity: mat ends should lie consistently with the rest of the rug so that those walking over it will not trip over them.
• Be vigilant about dry tiled flooring. Wipe up any moisture immediately.
• Check mats regularly for signs of wear and tear and for any water retention.
Replace on first signs of these types of damages.
Alert your snow maintenance workers to the following key zones:
• On and around fire hydrant, control valves and hose houses
• Walkways, ramp, entrances
• Driveways
• Parking lots
• Connecting auto and truck roadways
• Heating as well as ventilation apparatus and ducting
• Roofs
• Overhangs and awnings
Make sure snowplowing team adheres to snow piling safety. Direct members to pile snow far from:
• Commercial entrances and sidewalks
• Fire hydrants, fire house connections, outdoor water sprinkler control spigots
• Places that promote snow melting onto parking lots, roadways and sidewalks and where the melted snow (i.e. water) can ice over
Walkway care is extremely vital as well.
• Write out a general walkway clearance plan, focusing on care policy that includes a backup support system, as well as emergency procedure.
• Ensure every responsible party understands his or her particular job and keep a log of duty schedule and completion.
Don’t forget about the icy patches that pose significant peril.
• Have workers place chemical freezing point depressants on key areas EARLY on in the winter season – before any snow fall or ice development.
• Spread over all areas again when it snows.
• Spread over again after it snows so all the risk will defrost.