Spring Clean Up – Commercial Properties

After a harsh New England winter, it’s important that you tidy up your commercial properties to protect your customers, staff, and greater community from any potential slip, trip & fall hazards.

Whether that responsibility falls on you, the property owner or you hire an outside property management company to take care of these things for you, we recommend creating a checklist & then closely inspecting your building and landscaping. Take note of any damage — if you have a camera and can take pictures, that is even better.

If a whole checklist seems overwhelming or you are not sure where to begin, here are some areas we suggest you focus on this spring:

Trees & Shrubs – The weight of heavy snow and ice can often wreak havoc on our outdoor environments. As heavy ice accumulates, it is not uncommon to see split, dead, and/or rotting trees & shrubs because of the harsh seasonal conditions. Trim any dead branches that may be on your property or near powerlines. Until removed, these will continue to be a risk, falling on a person, building, or vehicle, presenting a very serious safety concern.

It is important to trim any healthy trees & shrubs as well, to keep them under control and away from wires.

Roof & Gutters – Check your roof for any damages that may have been caused during the winter from ice or snow and repair them to reduce the chance of leaks. Signs of damage to your commercial roof can be as subtle as water spots on interior ceilings and walls or as obvious as a major leak.

While you have the ladder out, it is a good idea to clean out the gutters too. This will keep the water flowing away from your business and prevent the possibility of damage and leaks. Proper water drainage throughout your property is also important, as stagnant, or pooling water can come with its own set of risks.

Parking Lot & Walkways – Spring is the perfect time to get outside, and conduct slip, trip & fall hazards around your parking areas & walkways.  Potholes in concrete and asphalt not only create tripping hazards but can also collect water. Fill potholes with gravel or paver base as a temporary fix, but have a permanent repair done as soon as possible.

Engine oil and coolant residue left on parking surfaces can be slippery in any type of weather. Clean it up with a pressure washer before or after normal business hours to avoid inconveniencing any customers or employees.

Clear any salt/sand leftover from winter in your parking area & walkways. If not handled properly, this can build up over time and create additional slip, trip, fall hazards.

If you need and/or want to hire a property management company to handle the above tasks, we are happy to provide you with a list of recommendations.

DISCLAIMER:

The information included in this publication and accompanying materials was obtained from sources believed to be reliable for informational purposes only. Northern Safety Solutions/Kinney Pike Insurance and its employees make no guarantee of results in connection with any training, materials, suggestions, or information provided. This information is only a tool to assist you in managing your responsibility to maintain safe premises, practices, operations, and equipment. All sample materials serve as a guideline, which you can use to create your own programs, policies, and procedures to reflect your own operations. Furthermore, it cannot be assumed that all possible hazardous conditions or unsafe acts that may exist are covered, every acceptable safety method is contained in this publication, or that specific circumstance may not require additional methods or alternative safety considerations. It is the user’s responsibility to confirm compliance with any applicable local, state or federal regulations. Information obtained from or via Northern Safety Solutions/Kinney Pike Insurance should not be used as the basis for legal advice or other advice, and should be confirmed with alternative sources. Implementation of any practices suggested by this information is at your sole discretion; and Northern Safety Solutions / Kinney Pike Insurance or its affiliates shall not be liable to any party for any damages whatsoever arising out of, or in connection with, the information provided or its use.

Sources:

https://www.acadiainsurance.com/after-the-thaw-6-tips-for-spring-commercial-property-maintenance/
https://www.clintar.com/blog/2021/02/25/spring-maintenance-for-commercial-properties-2021/
https://www.emcins.com/losscontrol/insights-d/newsletters/petro/2015/05-1/
https://www.klimroofing.com/2019/06/27/roofing/the-basics-of-commercial-roof-maintenance/