Seven Ways to Protect Your Business with Ice Melt
Georgia has already experienced snowfall and frigid temperatures this year. Business owners need to do everything they can to ensure the safety of those entering their business when there is wintry weather. Outdoor surfaces, such as parking lots, sidewalks, and walkways, can be extremely hazardous in the winter months. Slips and falls are serious liability, and in fact, they are the leading cause of loss for Society Insurance policyholders.
Before tackling the issue of snow and ice, it is important to understand your responsibilities as a business owner. If you own a property, you are responsible for the snow and ice removal. If you are a tenant, it is smart to check your lease agreement to see who is responsible for the removal of snow and ice; it could be you! Slippery sidewalks and icy entryways may feel out of your control, but there is a product you can use to protect your business, employees, and customers: ice melt.
Ice melt is an affordable and easy way to prevent slip and fall accidents because it quickly and efficiently melts away the ice. This product is helpful because even after outdoor surfaces have been shoveled for snow, there often remains a thin layer of ice that can be hazardous. Even a light dusting of snow can lead to slippery conditions, especially if the temperature drops below freezing as the day wears on. Below are seven effective ways to use ice melt to protect your business this winter:
Place a container of ice melt at the door to spot treat door entrances and sidewalks.
Apply ice melt before the wintry mix is expected to prevent ice accumulation and reduce the slippery conditions.
Remove all accumulated snow (even a light dusting) with a shovel or snow blower.
Apply a thin, even layer of ice melt overall walking surfaces. Use a cup for spot treating small areas and use a lawn fertilizer spreader for larger areas. Wear gloves to protect your hands.
Conduct periodic inspections of the property to look for hazardous areas, such as entrances and sidewalks.
Pay close attention to the movement of the sun around the business. Areas that are sunny in the morning but shady in the afternoon can become icy in freezing temperatures.
Use de-icing products as directed.
When it comes to winter weather, every precautionary measure should be taken to protect your business. Being complacent and doing nothing can open up business owners to liability claims as well as employee injury.
Society Insurance advocates the use of ice melt but does not recommend any specific ice melt product. Each business owner will have to decide what product will work best for their location. To help you make that decision, check out this Consumer Reports article and comparison chart.
This information is provided as a convenience for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute legal or professional advice. It is provided to assist you in recognizing potential unsafe work problems or conditions and not to establish compliance with any law, rule, or regulation.