The winter months can be joyous, with holidays, great recreational activities, all amidst beautiful scenery. But as a business owner, winter-like weather introduces a whole new set of threats to your business.

Here are four Winter hazards you should prepare your business for if you live in a part of the country that, for better or worse, experiences Winter weather extremes:

• Water damage. Nearly all of the recommendations you hear for winterizing a home also apply to a business. No surprise there. Exposed outdoor water pipes and pumps should insulated and protected if they can’t be shut off. Make sure heat reaches all the nooks inside your building where internal water supply pipes are found.
• Roof integrity. Again, as with a home, make sure your business building’s gutters and downspouts are clear of debris and allow for good drainage. Water backing up onto the roof will ultimately damage the roof and allow water leakage. And speaking of roofs, make sure to have a pre-Winter roof inspection to ensure it will hold up to another season of high snowfall levels.
• Auto safety. Make sure your fleet is winterized with proper tires and tire pressure and sufficient anti-freeze. Equally important, emphasize to your drivers that you put their safety first. Careful driving is essential and there is rarely a good reason to risk driving in extremely hazardous winter conditions.
• Premises safety. No one needs to slip and fall on wet floors – customers, employees, vendors, deliver people or anyone else. Develop a policy and place responsibility for specific people to monitor the conditions of your floors. Make sure your people regularly clean and mop the high traffic areas. And since your premises extends out your door, be sure your team pro-actively shovels and breaks up the ice in front of and around your building. Don’t wait till the storm is done – do it continually.

Here’s to a safe and beautiful Winter season!