Preparing your business for winter weather

Winter weather can interrupt a business through frozen pipes, slippery walkways, power outages, and transportation delays. Preparing for those disruptions means knowing what needs attention and who will handle it.

Review the property before cold weather arrives

Have your facilities team or qualified contractors review the building’s roof drainage, weather sealing, heating systems, and vulnerable plumbing. Address maintenance issues while conditions allow the work to be done safely.

Confirm how the building will be monitored during closures and who receives temperature or leak alerts. Follow guidance specific to the building and its systems when setting freeze-protection measures. A single temperature setting is not a complete plan for every property.

Assign responsibility for access and communication

Agree on who will arrange snow removal and treatment of icy walking surfaces, including entrances and other frequently used areas. Confirm the scope and availability of any outside service before a storm.

Snow removal can involve falls, electrical hazards, and structural risks. Roof work needs a separate safety assessment and qualified personnel; do not treat it as an extension of clearing a sidewalk. OSHA’s winter-weather guidance addresses these hazards.

Decide who can delay opening, change work arrangements, or suspend travel. Keep employee and customer contact information accessible if normal systems are unavailable.

Prepare for a disruption

Make sure designated staff can reach emergency contacts, insurance information, and critical business records. Review how you would operate if power, heating, communications, or access to the building were interrupted.

For employees working outdoors, plan for the conditions, appropriate equipment, and access to warm breaks. Review how staff should recognize and report cold-related concerns. OSHA’s preparedness guidance provides a starting point for that planning.

After the storm, put safe access first

Keep people away from damaged structures, downed power lines, and other unsafe areas. Use qualified responders for assessment and repairs. Document damage when it is safe to do so, and follow your policy’s reporting requirements promptly with help from your insurance team.

Record emergency expenses and operational disruptions. After the immediate response, review what worked and update the plan before the next event.

Ready to review your winter preparations? Talk with our Risk Control team.