Extreme Winter Weather; 10 Quick Tips for Property & Facility Managers
Your property management & building staff are the experts in your building, all having unique roles and responsibilities to keep your occupants and visitors safe during extreme Weather. The below, is a list of 10 tips that have been compiled that you may use to assist you and your teams at your building, during extreme winter weather.
Be Safe. Your building is a workplace, as such, brief your onsite staff and teams on the risks of extreme winter weather as they apply at your unique building. Include a review of Personal Protective Equipment available to them, and procedures for their own safety.
Is your building ready? In advance of extreme weather, typically inspections occur at the building to ensure that the emergency generator fuel supply is full, Salt and deicing materials are readily available. Local and perimeter storm drains are free from debris and leaf build up. These steps and more can significantly prevent, and mitigate down stream emergencies.
Slips, Trips and Falls. Building Security & Operations personnel should monitor the building walkways with an inspection program during winter weather. This inspection program should document the status of the main walkways and any prevention & mitigation efforts applied such as shoveling and the application of ice melting materials / salt. This inspection program should be documented several times per day, allowing the building Owner and Staff “proof “ of an active program to defend against any claims.
Keep the fire route and walkways clear of snow. Briefly connect with your Landscaping or snow removal service provider to ensure your building remains a priority for any snow clearing. Review your service contract to refresh deliverables and timing requirements. During major storms, you might not be able to rely on your contractor or service provider. Be sure your building has an adequate emergency supply of shovels, and de-icing materials.
Don’t forget the exit paths ! The front walkways are constantly monitored to ensure they are safe from slip, trip or fall hazards, and they remain clear of snow and ice buildup. As a building Owner, we have the responsibility above and beyond just the front entranmce walkway. Exterior stairwells leading from parking garages need to be clear of snow. Sometimes, these are forgotten about.
In Ontario, building Owners already have a requirement to inspect the Sprinkler / Fire Pump Room for the temperature of the room, during cold weather.
If the building looses heat in these areas, it may freeze or negatively impact these systems. Ensure your staff are inspecting this room daily, and documenting the inspection, and any challenges to heating this room. This is an important part of the building’s risk management program.
Maintain Security & Inspect your perimeter doors
Snow and salt build-up around the perimeter doors has in the past, often led to insecure doors, or doors not properly closing. Ensure your teams are inspecting these doors frequently.
Falling Ice signs - stock available. The potential for falling ice from roofs, awnings, eves, etc is likely. In order to be prepared to effectively communicate this hazard to both visitors and occupants, these signs need to be ready to be deployed when needed. Placing these signs both inside and outside provides the best communication efforts.
Power Failures are likely during ice storms. Ensure your staff are ready to respond and equipped with flashlights. Ensure batteries are charged and these are readily available in the event of a power failure. Ensure your Security and Concierge teams review their emergency procedures for power failures, including any emergency communications to occupants via the emergency Voice Communications system, in advance, to ensure they are well prepared.
Clear all Fire Hydrants and Fire Department Connections of Snow. Be sure your snow contractor and / or building staff are ensuring that these vital life safety components are kept clear of snow and ice accumulation. It is these systems that remain clear at all times, to assist and support your occupant safety.
We hope you find the above useful quick tips useful. We also want to aknowoledge and thank all the front line staff at every building, for their efforts in keeping us all safe and secure.
Jason D. Reid
National Life Safety Group