Is your business winter-ready?
Whether you clear your snow or hire someone to do it, you are responsible for the safety of others on your property. Because safety is number one, you reach for what has always worked – salt. However salt can create more problems than it solves.
Salt can damage concrete, kill landscapes, destroy flooring and carpets. Most importantly, salt harms our community’s drinking water. And as we experience more extreme weather including freezing rain, the need for salt will increase. Salt should never be your first or only line of defense to deal with snow and ice. Salt can be part of the answer, but using it correctly can protect you and our water.
Actions your business can take:
- Close areas not required such as parking spaces not required this winter with staff working at home, outdoor patios, extra walkways and stairs
- Print your own closed area sign
- Request a free closed area sign while supplies last
- Promote winter safety to your staff and visitors with these posters and window clings
- Download posters: Version 1 - Version 2
- Order your free posters and window clings
- Follow a complete winter maintenance plan using this winter maintenance plan worksheet
- Review your winter maintenance contract to include:
- Salt training for anyone salting your property
- Access to the contractor's application records
- Salt charged by unit price per event or lump sum per season, instead of by unlimited use, ensures both a practical and economical use of salt
- Manage slip and fall hazards by eliminating areas where ice can form
- Have a plan to deal with ice in colder temper when salt isn't effective
Resources:
- Blog: Five actions your business can take to reduce slip and fall hazards this winter
- Infographic: actions your business can take to be winter-ready
- Winter safety posters: Version 1 and Version 2
- Information sheet on closing areas during the winter months
- Eight ways to improve your winter maintenance plan
- Worksheet: create your own winter maintenance plan
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