As we head into the heart of the winter, it’s only a matter of time before your business is hit with a massive snowstorm. When winter drops several inches of snow onto streets, sidewalks and worker areas, it can be devastating for a business’s productivity and operations.
But it doesn’t have to be. Having a snow removal plan in place, being prepared with the proper equipment and planning, and motivating your workforce to prioritize snow removal not only can get your organization back into full operation sooner but can minimize the effects of one of the winter season’s most annoying and costly effects.
What’s Your Snow Removal Plan?
Businesses located in the “Snow Belt” invariably will experience at least a handful of heavy snows each winter. Yet every year, it seems as if they take businesses by surprise.
Don’t wait for a heavy snowfall to cripple your business. Have a snow plan in place before the heaviest winter weather hits. Your snow plan should include the procedures from removing snow from critical operational areas, including loading docks, parking areas, sidewalks, vehicle pathways, and other areas that your business uses every day.
There also should be a process in place for monitoring the weather so that your business can anticipate heavy snow, freezing temperatures, or other winter-related issues that could affect your business. Designate a manager or a department to keeping tabs on weather advisories and other information and distributing the information up and down the ladder when there is the threat of a direct impact on your operations.
It also should include a procedure for notifying workers of pending snowstorms and the expectations of the business in terms of making it to work. If extreme weather hits, such as a blinding snowstorm or the type of heavy snow that crippled the East Coast a few years back, there also should be a response plan in place so that managers know what to do without having to think about it or make last-minute decisions.
Outsourcing Snow Removal
Depending on the size of your property and the type of equipment you have on hand, you may be able to handle snow removal on your own. For example, forklifts and other material handling equipment can be fitted with plows that can be used to remove snow from parking lots, docks, and other crucial areas.
But larger businesses may need to consider hiring an outside contractor to handle their snow removal needs. It’s always a good idea to make these arrangements well in advance of the heavy snow season. Snow removal companies know that desperate businesses will pay any price to get their operations back to normal, so don’t get caught in a situation where you have to overpay.
Like any other contingency, snow emergencies require businesses to plan for the worst and hope for the best. This winter, don’t get caught off-guard. Have a snow plan in place before the big snowstorm arrives.