Cold, Wind, and Ice: How to Safeguard Your Business This Winter

By Mary Marley

What does winter weather mean to you?

-Fluffy piles of snow?
-Ice storm followed by rain?
-Prolonged sub-freezing temperatures?
-Strong winds?
-Snow, after snow, after more snow for weeks at a time?
-Power outages due to ice, wind or snow?

There are no wrong answers here. Depending on the type of facility you have and where it is located, winter could mean any or all of the above.

Furthermore, since winter weather varies and what constitutes extreme weather is different from place to place, there is no standard preparedness guide. We can, however, offer the basics and encourage every facility to evaluate their risk, taking into account the weather extremes experienced over the past several years.

Prepare now or risk cleaning up later

Cold Temperatures

• Ensure heating systems are properly maintained and fully functional.
• Identify unheated areas with vulnerable contents such as piping holding water or other liquid. Develop a plan to protect these spaces with insulation and temporary heating, or by draining pipes.
• If manufacturing equipment that adds heat to a space is turned off, ensure building heat is sufficient in those areas.
• Identify broken windows, vents or ill-fitting doors that let cold inside and make repairs.
• Monitor unoccupied spaces with a low temperature alarm set at 40°F.

Windstorms

• Secure rooftop equipment.
• Move or secure outdoor yard equipment.

Ice Storm

• Thoroughly inspect the roof to ensure there is no loose equipment or covering and that all roof drains are unobstructed.

Snowstorm

• Arrange for parking lots and sidewalks to be plowed, shoveled and salted.
• Ensure roof drains are unobstructed.
• Understand the weight capacity of your roof, especially where different roof heights meet and snow tends to drift. Monitor snow accumulations and make plans with a roofing contractor to remove excess snow.
• Ensure that stacks, chimneys and vent outlets are not blocked by snow or ice, which could cause a back up of fumes or materials into the building.

Not all precipitation weighs the same. Just one inch of ice accumulation weighs as much as three inches of wet snow or nearly a foot of dry fluffy snow. Adding rain on top of packed accumulated snow can lead to roof collapse.

Power Outages

• Determine your back up power capabilities. Is there an automatic switchover? Do you have sufficient fuel on hand and personnel to monitor fuel levels? Do you need to pre-arrange a rental generator as a contingency plan?
• Evaluate your vulnerabilities to materials or equipment during a power outage. Coupled with freezing temperatures, a loss of power will change your vulnerabilities to include freezing pipes.

Fire Protection Systems

• Ensure that your building fire protection systems can remain in service during severe winter weather. This can include:
  • Maintaining at least 40°F for water filled sprinkler systems
  • Maintaining power for dry pipe valve air compressors
  • Maintaining power or changing alarm panel batteries (stand by batteries last 24 hours, less if there is an alarm)
  • Do not turn off or impair fire protection systems.

Whatever weather conditions you normally experience in the winter, there will be times when the weather is at its worst for your area. Taking some time in advance to plan, get the right tools and establish contingencies will help you make it through and get back to business as usual as soon as possible.

Oswald’s risk management team can help you assess your needs, lower your vulnerability and protect against whatever comes next.

For more information, visit our Risk Consulting and Loss Control page or contact me below: