Is Your Parking Lot a Black Ice Hazard? [Small Business]

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on February 26, 2014 and was updated on February 4, 2016.

Hi, I'm Scott Marit, I am the personal lines managing partner with First Foundation which means I get to help people with their business insurance everyday! I absolutely love what I do and I am excited to share some of what I have learned with you here on this blog! I hope to share my knowledge from my experience working with small business owners.

I recently came across a video produced by one of our insurance partners dealing with the dangers of black ice.

Watch Video on Youtube

Black Ice

Here are some of the key points from the video:

Make sure you push the snow piles to the lower end of your parking lot to reduce the risk of black ice.

If you are the one paying the snow removal bill, you have the right to tell your contractor where to pile the snow! Make sure they pile it on the low side of your parking lot and ensure that all drains are kept clear. This will reduce the the build up of ice from run off with no where to go, and will significantly reduce the chance of black ice.

As you are responsible for injuries caused on your property, make sure you do everything you can to protect your staff and your customers! My guess is that in the case of snow removal, if the contractors are piling the snow in the wrong place, it is because they simply haven't been instructed otherwise!

It's All About Traction

Ice melt, sand, or other traction enhancing products can make a huge difference to your walkways in the winter! I realize it's kind of a pain to keep on top of all the time, especially when it is really cold outside but diligence here will pay off. Make sure to spread some form of ice melt, sand or gravel on your sidewalks. I've even seen people using kitty litter in a pinch as a form of traction control... however be sure to avoid piling that stuff on too deep or you'll be cleaning up more than you bargained for in the spring!

It's a lot easier to put sand down than it is to figure out how to recover from one individual being hurt.

As a small business owner it is your responsibility to go the extra mile to protect the people who do business with you. Making sure you have a safe parking lot and walkway is a great place to start!

If you have questions about your exposure to liability, feel free to contact me directly anytime!