Winter is on its way, meaning it is time to prepare your building before the weather takes a turn. Slips and falls, frozen pipes and vehicle troubles are just a few of the hazards wintry weather brings. Even if your building is located in a warmer climate, you still need to prepare for the unexpected—as we have seen with the polar vortex freeze events in recent years.
Here, Eric Spacek, assistant vice president of Risk Control for Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I., shares some important guidelines organizations should follow to protect their people and facility when the temperatures get low.
What can you do now to get your facility ready for winter?
Before cold weather arrives, have a professional thoroughly inspect your building’s heating system to make sure it is ready for winter heating demands. Also, check chimneys, vent pipes and ductwork for cracks or holes to repair. Designate someone to check on the heating system daily so you can quickly respond to any problems.
How can a house of worship reduce the risk of slips and falls due to ice and snow?
Establish a process for clearing ice and snow from outside walkways and parking lots. When snow falls during hours people are on-site, workers should be clearing snow at regular intervals and using salt or sand to melt ice. Keep salt or sand handy just inside your doors. Also make sure gutters and downspouts are clear in advance of winter and have a plan to address snow buildup and ice dams on your roof.
When it is snowing outside, everyone who enters your doors will be tracking moisture inside. Assign a staff member to check and clean the floor at regular intervals. Place walk-off mats at every entryway to trap the moisture that could cause a slip and fall. Post wet floor signs to warn people of potentially slippery conditions and make sure all steps and landings are well lit.
What are some precautions organizations should take related to winter travel?
During winter, roads may be slippery and unpredictable, and colder temperatures can cause vehicle problems. It is imperative you take steps to prepare your vehicles and protect your people on the road.
- If you live in an area that gets heavy snow, consider switching to snow tires for the winter.
- Gas tanks should be kept at least half full to avoid the risk of frozen fuel lines, condensation build-up and running out of gas in severe weather.
- Keep a first-aid kit in each of your vehicles, along with winter supplies including extra warm clothes, a blanket, flares, jumper cables and a cellphone charging cable.
- Change windshield wiper fluid to a type that withstands colder temperatures and check it on a regular basis.
- Test the batteries on all your vehicles. Batteries are more likely to fail in the winter, which could leave your people stranded.
- Check to make sure the rear-window defroster is working on all the vehicles in your fleet.
What steps can an organization take to reduce the risk of frozen pipes?
When pipes freeze and burst, the damage can be costly and disruptive to your mission. Here are important steps to lower your risk of frozen pipes:
- Always maintain a minimum temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit inside the building during the winter. Do not turn your heat off completely—even when the building will be unoccupied for an extended time. A cold building is the single greatest risk factor for frozen pipes.
- Add insulation to attics and crawl spaces to keep heat inside. During periods of extreme cold, you should also insulate your pipes.
- Keep your doors and windows tightly closed—even a small leak could lead to frozen pipes.
- Let a faucet drip to relieve pressure and prevent pipes from bursting. Choose a faucet furthest from the building’s water source. Also, open cabinet doors to allow warm air to reach the pipes at all faucet locations.
- Install a temperature alert system. A temperature alert system can remotely notify you of conditions that could cause frozen pipes, such as a faulty heating system.
If your pipes do freeze, open the faucets on frozen fixtures. Soak rags in hot water and wrap them around the frozen pipes. Open cabinet doors to allow warm air to reach the pipes and consider temporarily using a space heater in particularly cold areas. In the event of a burst pipe, turn off your water immediately and call a plumber.
Throughout the winter, insurance companies receive countless weather-related claim reports. Many of those claims could have been avoided with proper precautions.
