We live in an area that receives lots of snow and ice. Therefore, it must be dealt with accordingly if you want to protect your business from any of the many liabilities that come from slippery surfaces. That’s why being proactive rather than reactive is always your best bet when it comes to dealing with snow-related issues. Here we are going to give you 10 snow removal tips while also discussing the best time to address the snow, safety snow removal tips, and other common issues related to snow removal.

Let’s get started.

Snow Removal Tips: Best Time to Address the Snow

The best time to address the snow is before it happens. Waiting to deal with your snow removal issues and liabilities could cost you—a lot! The best thing you can do is to have systems in place for snow and ice removal that show you proactively tried to reduce the risk of someone getting hurt on your property.

The way liability cases are generally determined is that if an accident occurs that could have been foreseen or prevented, then you are liable. That’s why hiring a professional snow removal company is so important. Hiring a professional shows you did everything in your power to have your property treated so that you could protect people from harm. If an accident still occurs after that, it was an accident that couldn’t have been foreseen or prevented and, typically, you won’t be held liable.

10 Safety Snow Removal Tips for Your Commercial Property

Here are 10 safety and snow removal tips that will save you time and money.

1. Have a Snow Removal Plan

Prepare a snow removal plan ahead of time for your sidewalks, steps, driveways, parking lots, and any other thoroughfares where snow accumulates. Then put someone in charge of implementing and documenting that plan.

2. Stockpile Ice Melt, Salt, and Other Snow Removal Tools

During the offseason, stockpile Ice Melt, salt, shovels, and other snow removal tools. Doing so will ensure those items are available when you need them versus them potentially being out of stock, which leaves your business at risk.

3. Designate an Exit Door Snow Removal Supply Storage Area

Designate an area near each entry/exit door for the storage of snow removal supplies. This will save time due to the easy access to those supplies and not having to carry them to and from offsite storage. This is especially true in the winter when those items will be needed frequently.

4. Pre-Season Equipment Readiness

Prior to the winter season, have your snow and ice removal equipment such as snow blowers, shovels, and plows serviced so they are ready to go when the snow flies.

5. Assign a Designated and Marked Snow Mound Area

Make sure you have assigned a designated snow mound area prior to any snow removal event. You should clear the designated snow removal mound area, clearly mark it with flags or cones to keep people out and make sure that area is away from any other building or structure. You don’t want the weight of your snow mound or the force of the equipment pushing that mound to put undue stress on another structure.

6. Have an Overflow Snow Mound Area

There might be times when there is so much accumulated snow that your designated snow mound area will become full. You should just expect that that will happen at some point. Therefore, have an overflow snow mound area selected. And if it looks like you are going to experience a potential ongoing snow event, go ahead and clear and mark your overflow snow mound area as well, just like you did for your initial designated snow mound area.

7. Train Your Snow Removal Team on How to Function in White-Out Conditions

Always practice and train with your snow removal team for any and all potential situations. For example, white-out conditions make it hard to see anything, especially objects that might be just a few inches in front of you. This could result in disorientation. It will also make it hard to see things that are buried under the snow, such as gas line markers, utility boxes, dumpsters, parking blocks, and more. Therefore, it’s imperative that your snow removal team is familiar with and has marked the area ahead of time, so they know where to plow once the area is covered in snow.

8. Check the Property’s Water Drainage Systems

Check your entire property’s water drainage systems to make sure they are not draining onto sidewalks, steps, parking lots, or other major walking areas. Check all your downspouts, roofs, and drains to make sure they are not clogged and are draining correctly so they don’t cause drainage in any unwanted areas.

9. Hire a Professional Snow Removal Company

The laws aren’t always clear when it comes to snow removal liabilities. And sometimes, even when they are, a good attorney might be enough to sway a judge and jury in an injured person’s favor. Hiring a professional snow and ice removal company will give you the third-party documentation you need to show you proactively attempted to remedy any potential hazards. This could mean the difference between winning and losing a lawsuit. There’s nothing better than third-party proof that a business owner cared enough to hire a professional who knows how to correctly remedy any given situation.

Here is the official Illinois General Assembly law regarding snow removal which is about as clear as mud. It just leaves too much room for the interpretation of the word’s “undesirable” and “wrongdoing” and “acts or omissions,” at least in our opinion. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

10. Make Sure Your Chosen Snow Removal Company Is Professionally Trained and Certified

There are several snow removal certifications out there. The most common ones are the Accredited Snow Contractors Association (ASCA) and the SIMA Training Center which offers Certified Snow Professional (CSP) and Advanced Snow Manager (ASM) certifications.

What’s Next?

Are you in need of a commercial snow removal service or perhaps you would like more snow removal tips? Contact Great Lakes Snow Systems today. We are certified snow and ice professionals (SIMA) and provide services for all things snow. Our Great Lakes snow removal services help limit liability for property owners and managers and help keep your properties running smoothly when it snows. We’d love to show you just how easy and cost-effective using our services can be.