The winter season can strike fear into the hearts of business owners- there are many potential hazards not prevalent during the warmer months. Kaiman & Crahan typically shares tips for the consumers, but we also want to ensure that business owners are protecting themselves to prevent customer injuries.
A fresh snow covers the brick sidewalk along Main Street in Abingdon, VA on Wednesday, January 29, 2014. Copyright 2014 Jason Barnette
As such, employers and business owners should be mindful of the following:
Poorly maintained parking lots and sidewalks:
A majority of slip and fall injuries occur in parking lots and on sidewalks. Being proactive is very important to prevent incidents.
If you own your building, either keep a maintenance company on retainer for inclement weather, or have a few trusted employees safely and completely clear a path to your business.
If you do not own your building, stay in constant contact with the property management company to ensure a walkway free of potential hazards.
Lack of signage indicating hazards inside:
Is there potential for slippery floors due to snow or ice tracked inside? Be sure to have proper signage displayed indicating the potential for a fall. Even though it might seem like common sense that a fall hazard exists, better be safe than sorry!
Use discretion with your employees.
It is often said a company’s employees are their best assets. In order to protect these assets, it is important to use good judgement when it comes to weather conditions. For example, if the morning roads are icy, perhaps delay the start of your work day, or even allow your employees to work from home, depending on the structure of your business.
Staying a few steps ahead of old-man winter will help ensure both your customers and your employees are happy and healthy.