Winter Weather Preparation for Building Owners and Fleets

This publish is a part of a sequence sponsored by IAT Insurance Group.

Winter climate is simply across the nook. To scale back the danger of hazards, winter preparation is crucial. Now is the time for constructing mangers to prepared their premises and for drivers to winterize and equip their automobiles for winter driving situations. Now can be a good time for fleet managers to remind drivers of protected driving methods throughout winter situations.

Wintertime constructing preparation

As weather-related dangers head our method, constructing homeowners and facility managers ought to assessment security insurance policies and procedures, replace incident response plans and prepared their premises. Here are some steps to just do that:

1. Inspect your premises. Check the grounds day by day. Examine sidewalks and parking heaps for slip and fall hazards, and document all fixes and repairs. This documentation proves that precautions have been met to mitigate incidents and demonstrates a proactive method to managing these hazards. If safety cameras are in place, be certain that their lens is obvious and the system is working accordingly. Cameras are a deterrent to trespassing and may present a document of exercise in your property.
2. Light the way in which. Poor lighting will increase the danger of slips, journeys and falls. Illuminate walkways, staircases, ramps and hallways. Make certain out of doors lights are working and programmed to activate at nightfall.
3. Prepare for ice. Rain, snow and ice creates slip hazards. Ice melting merchandise and non-slip runners can drastically scale back these hazards. Make certain downspouts, canopies and overhangs don’t drain onto pedestrian site visitors areas. Gutters and downspouts also needs to be cleaned earlier than winter arrives.
4. Maintain your grounds. Maintain exterior steps, ramps, walkways, entry and exit factors. Clear snow and ice from walkways and parking heaps because it accumulates. Internally, use moisture-absorbent mats at entry factors with beveled edges and non-slip backing to stop sliding. Rotate moist rugs with dry rugs all through the day. Clean up spills instantly and show “wet floor” or comparable signage as wanted.
5. Prepare for chilly climate calamities. Prepare for freezing pipes, inside water losses from heavy rainfall, and clogged storm and roof drains with preventative upkeep. Check heating methods and ensure smoke detectors and CO₂ screens are working nicely.

Preparing tools and automobiles

Before driving in hostile climate situations, all drivers ought to carry out the next security checks and measures on their automobiles:

• Check tire treads and strain, as worn tires trigger many automobile accidents — particularly in moist, snowy or icy situations.
• Make certain the defrost, warmth and windshield wipers are working and anti-freeze is stuffed.
• Keep the gasoline degree above half a tank.
• Maintain an emergency equipment contained in the automobile that features a shovel, heavy blanket, flashlight, batteries, snacks, water, gloves, boots, ice scraper, and jumper cables.
• Have tire chains prepared if you’re in an space the place snow is frequent or chains are mandated by legislation. Drivers ought to know find out how to set up the chains earlier than they’re wanted, so a fast reminder/coaching session in your subsequent security assembly could also be so as.

Winter driving suggestions

When transporting hundreds in hostile climate situations, fleets ought to encourage their drivers to do the next:

1. Increase their following distance by three to 4 instances. Approximately 1.7 million rear-end collisions happen on U.S. roads every year.^[1]
2. Lower velocity to half underneath snowy situations.^[2]
3. Avoid sudden actions in steering, accelerating and braking, and many others., to take care of traction.
4. Allocate extra time for journeys.
5. Watch out for black ice. Monitoring home windows for ice buildup is an efficient indication of what’s taking place on the highway. Another is when automobiles now not have spray coming off their tires. Moisture on the highway may be grow to be ice because the temperature drops.
6. Be conscious that different drivers will not be conversant in winter driving. They could also be touring nicely beneath the posted velocity restrict, or the alternative, driving too quick for the situations. Be affected person and cautious round others who will not be skilled drivers.

Some extra suggestions embrace intently following the forecast, checking the most recent journey situation data on the National Highway Administration’s “511” hotline, figuring out potential cease areas, and ready till hazardous situations cross.

And keep in mind, “No load is worth your life.”

ASK A LOSS CONTROL REPRESENTATIVE

Have a query on find out how to mitigate threat? Email losscontroldirect@iatinsurance.com for an opportunity to see your query answered in a future weblog.

By Nick Martin and Jared Fritts

[1] The Washington Post “There are about 1.7 million year-end collisions on U.S. roads each year. Here’s how to stop them,” June 8, 2015.

[2] Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration “CMV Driving Tips – Too Fast for Conditions,” February 11, 2015.