Winter is a very challenging time. It is cold, the roads are dangerous, utility bills are high, and of course, there are extra dangers that your business must address for the sake of its employees and its customers. Ignoring the perils of winter is a huge mistake, but thankfully it can be easily addressed. From tips to improving employee mental health during the dark to safety tips to keep everyone – including yourself – safe this winter, follow this guide on how to make your business winter-proof:
1. Stock Up
Road salt is an easy and inexpensive means to keep your property safe, but you need to be prepared in advance. That is why as soon as autumn hits you should stock up on road salt, and store it somewhere on your property for ease of use. This could be in an outside storage bin, that comes with a lock and key, or it could be kept inside a supply closet. That way, when you go to work and find that the pathways and driveways are slippery, you can quickly rectify the problem. Road salt, of course, comes with a few environmental concerns. Reduce this environmental impact by optimizing the salt application, so you use less for greater results or use more environmentally-friendly options.
2. Remove Snow
If you have a small walkway that you need to shovel, then doing the work by yourself can be an acceptable solution. If you are responsible for snow management on your property, you will need to hire a service to handle it. If you are in Baltimore, then you will need to hire Baltimore snow removal services to ensure that your parking lot is clear. Neglecting to remove the snow will mean that drivers and pedestrians pack the snow down until it becomes a hard, slippery service that is both dangerous and difficult to remove.
3. Remove Icicles
Icicles can be deadly, which is why you have a responsibility to clear them often. You could get a pole of some kind (a rake or shovel will do). You should, however, be wary of icicles that are hanging off gutters, as this could mean that the gutters are filled with ice themselves. In this case, you must take extra precaution that you don’t knock them off in your effort to remove the icicles from their perch. Always remove icicles when no one else is in the immediate vicinity, and exercise caution.
4. Keep Inside Bright and Happy
The previous tips will improve the physical safety of your property. If you want to go one step further and help against the winter blues, you should put effort into making the office itself inside is bright. Add more plant life, allow your employees to listen to music, and add more lights if need be.
Preparing and maintaining your office space during winter is all about consistency. If you allow these conditions to pile up, they will become expensive and time-consuming problems. Regular maintenance is critical to your safety and happiness.