The Hazards of Snow and Ice
Winter is often a difficult period for many businesses, as people would minimize going out and being exposed to the cold. But the snow and ice it brings can also negatively affect commercial establishments such as restaurants, malls, retail outlets, and service centers. As snow piles up, it prevents people and vehicles from entering that particular area, and can also potentially damage any outdoor features such as awnings and signage due to its weight. Additionally, one of the biggest hazards is slipping, which can affect both workers, customers, and passersby, who could lead to accidents and even potential lawsuits.
That said, it’s important to take necessary precautions before and during winter to mitigate the risk of injuries and damages as well as inconveniences brought about by winter.
Make A Winter Plan
Even before winter comes and the first drop of snow hits your property, it’s important that you already have a plan to deal with snow and ice. You can assign staff to be in charge of shoveling off snow in your perimeter, hire commercial landscaping services in Chapel Hill to help winter-proof and manage your grounds and greenery, and contact snow plowing services if needed.
Remove Snow From Your Parking Lots
For establishments with open parking lots, snow is a constant nuisance but still need to be addressed to have a safe and functional parking lot. Not only do layers of snow prevent vehicles from seeing the parking lanes, but it can make parking difficult (or even impossible if the layers are stacked high). You must regularly plow your parking and avoid it from piling up.
Salt and Sand
You’ve probably seen trucks spilling salt or sand on the road during winter; this is to prevent freezing; putting salt on wet surfaces result in brine which prevents the freezing process by lowering the freezing point of water. Sand, on the other hand, helps improve traction to prevent vehicles and people from slipping on the area, as well as preventing new layers of ice from forming. That said, you should consider dropping salt and snow around your parking lots, sidewalks, and walkways to prevent ice buildup and slipping accidents.
Improve Lighting
Having functional and well-placed lights around your property won’t exactly help with the snow and ice problem, but it can help people and vehicles see the ground. As such, areas of your commercial property, particularly the parking lot, walkways, sidewalks, as well as stairs should have adequate and well-placed lighting so that customers, workers, and passersby can detect any slippery areas to avoid or tread carefully on.
Invest in Good Entrance Mats
Lastly, you’d also want to consider protecting the interior floors of your commercial establishment as shoes wet from snow and ice can track in dirt and moisture which won’t only end up dirtying your place, but could also potentially damage wooden floors due to water damage or matting up your carpets. Invest in floor mats in and out your establishment. This can also help dry up shoes and prevent slipping.
Conclusion
There’s no question that snow and ice can have a huge impact to your commercial establishment’s grounds, which is why it’s important to be prepared and have plans in place before winter arrives and also to regularly manage any snow and ice that’s piling up in your commercial grounds. Luckily, businesses are offering commercial landscaping services in Chapel Hill that also offer snow and ice management to mitigate any snow-and-ice-related injuries in your property.