Wisconsin winter has an average of 47.6 inches of snow every year, one of the highest amounts of snow in the Midwest. If you’re a commercial business owner, this snow is a lot of work to keep up with each year, as too much snow can cause you to shut your doors, cause safety hazards, and damage your property in the long term. The last thing you want is someone to become injured on your property, resulting in an expensive and reputation-damaging lawsuit.
Keeping your business safe and functional year-round is an integral part of your business. Because you’re so focused on running other areas of your business, why not hire an outside company to assist you with these needs?
Here are some methods of snow removal risk strategies for your Wisconsin business.
Audit Your Commercial Property for Possible Risks
The first step in reducing your commercial property’s business risk is to evaluate your property and understand where any potential risk is coming from. Many business owners are unaware of how their property may result in an unexpected injury until it’s too late.
For example, consider the following:
- Rooftops: Where does snow typically accumulate on your roof, and how does it fall off?
- Sidewalks: Is the pavement surrounding your property uneven or bumpy?
- Parking lots: Is your parking lot uneven? Is it properly marked? Will the snow cover important parts of your parking lot, such as the curb and fire hydrant?
- Steps or ramps: Are they cared for properly and completely visible?
- Outdoor faucets or spouts: Determine if freezing or leaking will impact your property.
- Lights: Is there enough lighting to provide a safe environment no matter the time of day?
The above list is not meant to be an exhaustive audit, but it can provide you with a good starting point.
Plan Your Safety Strategies for Snow Removal
Having snow and ice management plan ahead of time helps you safely and efficiently remove snow from your commercial property can go a long way. Consider factors such as snow removal from your rooftop to determine if workers could potentially slip and fall. Going through your insurance policy is never a bad idea either, as it helps you to understand any risks to keep your employees safe.
Stay Organized with Snow Removal Activities
The more detail you can provide around your business’ snow removal activities, the easier it will be to plan for next year. Consider logging your activities to keep track of when and how often you need to remove snow. Other details to factor in include the estimated amount of snowfall, ice build-up, temperature, date, time, unusual conditions, and any action taken. The more details you include, the better.
Hire a Qualified Snow Removal Contractor
If you’re exploring a professional snow removal contractor, ensure they have the experience and qualifications necessary to help your business thrive. The right company will have the right type of insurance to keep your business functional, in addition to a portfolio of impressive reviews from other customers.
Conclusion
To effectively manage snow removal in Milwaukee, Green Bay, or other Wisconsin cities, there’s no better team than ours at Earth Development, Inc.! Our snow removal professionals are available 24/7 to assist your business. Get a quote by calling us today at 866-475-2807.