Business Risk Liabilities for Snow & Ice

Each business is unique and faces different winter weather challenges; however, maintaining safe premises for workers, clients and other third parties is essential for all organizations. While snow and ice dangers vary from year to year, there are several reasons why businesses need to remove snow and ice from their property, including:

Reducing Liabilities for third-party injuries--Business owners are generally responsible for keeping their premises safe, and many jurisdictions have laws in place that codify this duty. Failure to do so not only compromises the safety of employees, customers and other third parties, but it also exposes the business owners to potential slip-and-fall lawsuits which can create financial hardships and reputational damage.

Prevention of property damage--Failure to remove snow and ice can lead to costly property damage. For example, ice dams can form on gutters, leading to expensive water damage. These losses can create expensive repair costs and can force businesses to close until the property can be fixed, resulting in lost revenue.

Customer attraction and retention--Improperly cleared sidewalks and parking lots can be a deterrent for customers. They may not feel safe, or they may form negative opinions regarding the upkeep of the property. Additionally, snow and ice may make it impossible or impractical for customers to enter the business.

Prevention of bigger jobs--staying on top of snow and ice removal as it happens can help prevent having to complete a more significant job in the future. If too much snow or ice accumulates, it may necessitate more or larger equipment, as the snow or ice may not be easily removed. It may even lead to businesses needing to hire a contractor. Each of these scenarios leads to increased time and resources to complete the job.

One of the ways that businesses can ensure snow and ice are being removed effectively and efficiently is to create a snow and ice removal plan. Such a comprehensive strategy can help businesses stay consistent with how snow and ice removal is undertaken and provide documented instructions that can be communicated to workers and other involved parties.

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