Winter Weather Preparation for Building Owners and Fleets

This submit is a part of a collection sponsored by IAT Insurance coverage Group.

Winter climate is simply across the nook. To scale back the chance of hazards, winter preparation is important. Now’s the time for constructing mangers to prepared their premises and for drivers to winterize and equip their autos for winter driving circumstances. Now can also be a good time for fleet managers to remind drivers of protected driving strategies throughout winter circumstances.

Wintertime constructing preparation

As weather-related dangers head our manner, constructing homeowners and facility managers ought to evaluate security insurance policies and procedures, replace incident response plans and prepared their premises. Listed here are some steps to do exactly that:

1. Examine your premises. Examine the grounds each day. Study sidewalks and parking tons for slip and fall hazards, and document all fixes and repairs. This documentation proves that precautions had been met to mitigate incidents and demonstrates a proactive strategy to managing these hazards. If safety cameras are in place, make certain their lens is obvious and the system is working accordingly. Cameras are a deterrent to trespassing and might present a document of exercise in your property.
2. Mild the way in which. Poor lighting will increase the chance of slips, journeys and falls. Illuminate walkways, staircases, ramps and hallways. Be sure that out of doors lights are working and programmed to activate at nightfall.
3. Put together for ice. Rain, snow and ice creates slip hazards. Ice melting merchandise and non-slip runners can enormously cut back these hazards. Be sure that downspouts, canopies and overhangs don’t drain onto pedestrian visitors areas. Gutters and downspouts must also be cleaned earlier than winter arrives.
4. Keep your grounds. Keep exterior steps, ramps, walkways, entry and exit factors. Clear snow and ice from walkways and parking tons 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. Clear up spills instantly and show “moist ground” or comparable signage as wanted.
5. Put together for chilly climate calamities. Put together for freezing pipes, inside water losses from heavy rainfall, and clogged storm and roof drains with preventative upkeep. Examine heating techniques and ensure smoke detectors and CO₂ displays are working effectively.

Making ready gear and autos

Earlier than driving in adversarial climate circumstances, all drivers ought to carry out the next security checks and measures on their autos:

• Examine tire treads and strain, as worn tires trigger many car accidents — particularly in moist, snowy or icy circumstances.
• Be sure that the defrost, warmth and windshield wipers are working and anti-freeze is crammed.
• Preserve the gas stage above half a tank.
• Keep an emergency equipment contained in the car 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 widespread or chains are mandated by legislation. Drivers ought to know how you can 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 ideas

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

1. Enhance their following distance by three to 4 instances. Roughly 1.7 million rear-end collisions happen on U.S. roads annually.^[1]
2. Decrease pace to half below snowy circumstances.^[2]
3. Keep away from sudden actions in steering, accelerating and braking, and so forth., to keep up traction.
4. Allocate extra time for journeys.
5. Be careful for black ice. Monitoring home windows for ice buildup is an effective indication of what’s occurring on the highway. One other is when autos not have spray coming off their tires. Moisture on the highway might be change into ice because the temperature drops.
6. Bear in mind that different drivers is probably not aware of winter driving. They could be touring effectively beneath the posted pace restrict, or the other, driving too quick for the circumstances. Be affected person and cautious round others who is probably not skilled drivers.

Some further suggestions embrace carefully following the forecast, checking the newest journey situation data on the Nationwide Freeway Administration’s “511” hotline, figuring out potential cease areas, and ready till hazardous circumstances go.

And bear in mind, “No load is price your life.”

ASK A LOSS CONTROL REPRESENTATIVE

Have a query on how you can mitigate danger? E mail losscontroldirect@iatinsurance.com for an opportunity to see your query answered in a future weblog.

By Nick Martin and Jared Fritts

[1] The Washington Publish “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 Provider Security Administration “CMV Driving Tips – Too Fast for Conditions,” February 11, 2015.