Commercial properties face liability concerns all year long. But the importance of managing those risks seems to skyrocket during the winter months. Biting cold weather, heavy snowfall, and the sheets of ice that form overnight can become serious hazards.
It’s easy for accidents to happen when you don’t have the right process in place. Whether people are walking to your front door or driving around and trying to find a spot to park, you want to make sure your property is as safe as possible. Taking a closer look at your snow removal strategy can help you have a worry-free season.
1. Identify You Property’s Unique Risks
Big site or smaller site, every property has its quirks. You might be up against a unique parking lot layout with lots of curbing and twists and turns. Or maybe it’s a long set of stairs at the front of your building that always get slick. Reviewing the top problems around your site before the snow hits is a crucial part of risk management. Before you open yourself up to accidents, be sure to evaluate the following:
- Any uneven areas in your parking lots? You don’t want snow plows to get caught or make your pavement worse.
- Any objects that could get hidden beneath snow? Grassy sections in the middle of your lots might have curbing, but that can get obscured with rough weather.
- Any places where your roof will drop snow? Looking out for where big icicles might form is also a good idea.
- Any new issues with your sidewalks? Cracks and shifts can happen, so make sure you haven’t unlooked them.
2. Build a Better Site Safety Plan
Once you have a better sense of where people might be vulnerable around your property, it’s time to develop a logical site safety plan for snow removal and risk management. For example, when’s the last time you had someone look over your commercial insurance policy? Are there any repairs you need to tackle before the snow and ice arrive?
Perhaps you need to put a few markers around your parking lots or the perimeter to help your snow removal team see the places that are “our of bounds.” You wouldn’t want a truck to get stuck in the mud.
3. Hire Professional Snow Removal
Many commercial properties and larger companies have a great maintenance crew. Yet that doesn’t mean they have the equipment or time to handle all of the work that comes with a rough winter season. Think about all of the salt hand work you’ll need for your sidewalks, let alone the snow plowing your site will need. To keep on track, hiring a snow removal contractor is often your best option. They’ll keep an eye on the weather forecast and get out to your property on time to keep your site safe.
When you want a truly professional crew, Lunar Snow Removal is here to help. We’re proud to partner with property managers and business owners for sites all around the greater Indianapolis area. Let our team help take the stress out of your ongoing snow removal needs. Reach out today to learn more about our process. We’d be happy to get you on our upcoming service schedule!
