It is the time of year where the weather gets frightful. Still, that doesn’t mean your business has to be adversely affected. In fact, there are numerous steps you can take ahead of time to help prevent disaster. Here are a few common hazards all small business owners need to pay
attention to this winter.
The more you pay attention to upkeep and security in winter, the lower your chances of problems like insurance claims. Therefore, your overall insurance risk level might remain lower.
Slip and Fall Accidents
A business owner’s policy (BOP) might help if a visitor or client becomes injured on premises. However, it is still important to take steps to reduce the chance of an incident. Icy sidewalks and parking lots have the potential to not only injure clients but also your staff, which hurts productivity. Shoveling and salting frozen walkways helps eliminate the risk of a fall. Adding wet floor signs near doorways helps reduce the chance of a secondary injury.
Power Outages
In some areas, unpredictable winter weather often leads to power outages. Besides being inconvenient, loss of electricity can also cause damage to computers. They might also spoil inventory in restaurants and create a whole host of other problems.
For a business, this usually means loss of revenue and income. However, such losses are often covered by your BOP. However, it is still important to have a plan to help mitigate damages if the power company can't get the lights turned back on right away. If you really want the added protection, you can even purchase a backup generator for use in the event of a major outage. Some commercial buildings have these items already installed.
Frozen Pipes
Frozen pipes are more than just an inconvenience. The damage created by this type of problem is often catastrophic and might mean dealing with repairs for weeks or months. Keep a keen eye on the weather at all times. Take the same precautions in your store that you would at your own home—e.g. dripping a faucet, insulating pipes, etc.
Having a business owner's policy (BOP) to cover your risk throughout the year is important. But paying attention to the above winter weather hazards and taking adequate steps to reduce an incident can help keep your rates low and save you the trouble of having to file a claim.