As a business owner, not only is it important to keep your area safe for customers—but it’s the law. You will want to make sure to abide by all laws to keep your employees and customers from experiencing dangerous falls that can become detrimental to your business. Make sure you learn about the laws in your area, creating a winter to-do checklist for staff, and when to submit claims to insurance adjusters.
Finding Laws in Your State
Each state has varying laws as to handling snow and ice removal for your business. In many cases, you have anywhere from 12 to 24 hours to clear off sidewalks, parking lots, and walkways. An easy way to see what is mandatory in your state is to review the complete guide to snow removal laws by state. In general, you will want to make sure your sidewalks are cleared and salted, doors can easily be opened, parking lots are clear, and any other safety precautions are cared for. In addition, make sure to remove any dangling icicles on your gutters. These can fall, posing as a threat to customers or employees. Also, ice hanging from a gutter can also create added weight causing them to bend and break.
Creating a Winter To-Do List for Staff
One of the best ways to ensure success for business is to create a plan. Pull together your staff that would like to help and work together putting together steps. This includes:
- Individuals available to come in early or late to shovel, plow and spread ice
- Timelines based on your state’s laws to ensure you are not penalized for not working quick enough
- Pull together extra help that your staff may not be able to do
Take all of these aspects and put together a manual that is shared amongst the group, so everyone understands where their responsibilities are. It is also best to create a backup plan in case someone is unable to make it in to deal with snow maintenance. If you know you will have inclement weather, make sure everyone has their phones within quick distance so you can quickly communicate your plans.
When to Submit Claims
Unfortunately, accidents may happen. You may have issues from your roof, incidents with employees, or more. As soon as your business experiences any damage, contact your insurance company as soon as possible. From there, they will work with an adjuster to assess that situation. You are also welcome to contact your own adjuster to review the damage too, and can provide a second opinion on the damage.
When it comes to claims for your business, Aspen Claims Service can help. We have adjusters all across the continental United States that can quickly assist you in the event of a situation. It may help you to learn about the top types of winter claims insurance adjusters work with most often as you work through your winter maintenance plans. To get started, call us today at 888-819-5904 or email claims@aspenclaims.com. We are here to help you every step of the way to ensure your claim is submitted quickly and with timely results.
