This submit is a part of a collection sponsored by IAT Insurance coverage Group.

Winter climate is simply across the nook. To scale back the chance of hazards, winter preparation is important. Now’s the time for constructing mangers to prepared their premises and for drivers to winterize and equip their automobiles for winter driving circumstances. Now can be a good time for fleet managers to remind drivers of secure driving methods throughout winter circumstances.

Wintertime constructing preparation

As weather-related dangers head our manner, constructing homeowners and facility managers ought to assessment security insurance policies and procedures, replace incident response plans and prepared their premises. Listed below are some steps to do exactly that:

1. Examine your premises. Test the grounds every day. Look at sidewalks and parking tons for slip and fall hazards, and document all fixes and repairs. This documentation proves that precautions have been met to mitigate incidents and demonstrates a proactive method to managing these hazards. If safety cameras are in place, make certain their lens is obvious and the system is working accordingly. Cameras are a deterrent to trespassing and might present a document of exercise in your property.
2. Gentle the way in which. Poor lighting will increase the chance of slips, journeys and falls. Illuminate walkways, staircases, ramps and hallways. Make certain outside lights are working and programmed to activate at nightfall.
3. Put together for ice. Rain, snow and ice creates slip hazards. Ice melting merchandise and non-slip runners can drastically scale back these hazards. Make certain downspouts, canopies and overhangs don’t drain onto pedestrian visitors areas. Gutters and downspouts must also be cleaned earlier than winter arrives.
4. Preserve your grounds. Preserve exterior steps, ramps, walkways, entry and exit factors. Clear snow and ice from walkways and parking tons because it accumulates. Internally, use moisture-absorbent mats at entry factors with beveled edges and non-slip backing to forestall sliding. Rotate moist rugs with dry rugs all through the day. Clear up spills instantly and show “moist ground” or comparable signage as wanted.
5. Put together for chilly climate calamities. Put together for freezing pipes, inside water losses from heavy rainfall, and clogged storm and roof drains with preventative upkeep. Test heating techniques and ensure smoke detectors and CO₂ displays are working properly.

Making ready tools and automobiles

Earlier than driving in antagonistic climate circumstances, all drivers ought to carry out the next security checks and measures on their automobiles:

• Test tire treads and stress, as worn tires trigger many automobile accidents — particularly in moist, snowy or icy circumstances.
• Make certain the defrost, warmth and windshield wipers are working and anti-freeze is stuffed.
• Preserve the gas stage above half a tank.
• Preserve an emergency equipment contained in the automobile that features a shovel, heavy blanket, flashlight, batteries, snacks, water, gloves, boots, ice scraper, and jumper cables.
• Have tire chains prepared in case you are in an space the place snow is frequent or chains are mandated by regulation. Drivers ought to know how one can set up the chains earlier than they’re wanted, so a fast reminder/coaching session in your subsequent security assembly could also be so as.

Winter driving ideas

When transporting hundreds in antagonistic climate circumstances, fleets ought to encourage their drivers to do the next:

1. Improve their following distance by three to 4 instances. Roughly 1.7 million rear-end collisions happen on U.S. roads annually.^[1]
2. Decrease velocity to half underneath snowy circumstances.^[2]
3. Keep away from sudden actions in steering, accelerating and braking, and so forth., to take care of traction.
4. Allocate extra time for journeys.
5. Be careful for black ice. Monitoring home windows for ice buildup is an efficient indication of what’s occurring on the highway. One other is when automobiles now not have spray coming off their tires. Moisture on the highway will be turn into ice because the temperature drops.
6. Bear in mind that different drivers is probably not acquainted with winter driving. They could be touring properly under the posted velocity restrict, or the alternative, driving too quick for the circumstances. Be affected person and cautious round others who is probably not skilled drivers.

Some further suggestions embrace intently following the forecast, checking the most recent journey situation info on the Nationwide Freeway Administration’s “511” hotline, figuring out potential cease areas, and ready till hazardous circumstances go.

And bear in mind, “No load is value your life.”

ASK A LOSS CONTROL REPRESENTATIVE

Have a query on how one can mitigate danger? E-mail losscontroldirect@iatinsurance.com for an opportunity to see your query answered in a future weblog.

By Nick Martin and Jared Fritts

[1] The Washington Submit “There are about 1.7 million year-end collisions on U.S. roads annually. Right here’s how one can cease them,” June 8, 2015.

[2] Federal Motor Provider Security Administration “CMV Driving Ideas – Too Quick for Situations,” February 11, 2015.