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

Winter climate is simply across the nook. To cut 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 strategies throughout winter circumstances.

Wintertime constructing preparation

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

1. Examine your premises. Examine the grounds each day. Look at sidewalks and parking heaps for slip and fall hazards, and file all fixes and repairs. This documentation proves that precautions had been met to mitigate incidents and demonstrates a proactive method to managing these hazards. If safety cameras are in place, make sure that their lens is obvious and the system is working accordingly. Cameras are a deterrent to trespassing and may present a file of exercise in your property.
2. Mild the best way. 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 tremendously scale back these hazards. Make certain downspouts, canopies and overhangs don’t drain onto pedestrian site 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 heaps 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 flooring” or related 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. Examine heating programs and ensure smoke detectors and CO₂ displays are working nicely.

Getting ready gear and automobiles

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

• Examine tire treads and strain, 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.
• Maintain the gasoline 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 if you’re in an space the place snow is widespread or chains are mandated by regulation. Drivers ought to know find out how to 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 masses in antagonistic climate circumstances, fleets ought to encourage their drivers to do the next:

1. Improve their following distance by three to 4 occasions. Roughly 1.7 million rear-end collisions happen on U.S. roads annually.^[1]
2. Decrease pace to half beneath snowy circumstances.^[2]
3. Keep away from sudden actions in steering, accelerating and braking, and many others., 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 taking place on the highway. One other is when automobiles now not have spray coming off their tires. Moisture on the highway could be develop into ice because the temperature drops.
6. Remember that different drivers might not be aware of winter driving. They could be touring nicely under the posted pace restrict, or the alternative, driving too quick for the circumstances. Be affected person and cautious round others who might not be skilled drivers.

Some extra suggestions embrace intently following the forecast, checking the newest journey situation data on the Nationwide Freeway Administration’s “511” hotline, figuring out potential cease areas, and ready till hazardous circumstances move.

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

ASK A LOSS CONTROL REPRESENTATIVE

Have a query on find out how to mitigate threat? Electronic 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 Put up “There are about 1.7 million year-end collisions on U.S. roads annually. Right here’s find out how to cease them,” June 8, 2015.

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