Protecting Your Calgary Business: The Critical Role Of Professional Snow Removal
How much does snow cost? Sure, it falls from the sky for free—but how much does snow cost when it blocks your customers from visiting your business? How much does it cost when it turns your parking lot into a skating rink, causing slip-and-fall accidents or even car accidents?
Without commercial snow removal, you’re putting your business at risk but we’re here to help. Our professional snow removal services keep your parking lots, walkways, and more clear of snow and ice. Let’s dive into how you can plan snow removal in Calgary, the benefits of snow removal, and what you should know about different snow removal techniques and services:
Understanding The Importance Of Commercial Snow Removal
Safety Risks Of Neglected Snow And Ice
When snow and ice are left unmanaged, a host of problems can occur. We’ve already talked about the risk of slip-and-fall accidents and car accidents, but the risks go beyond that:
In the spring, when all that snow and ice melts, you can end up with cracks and potholes in your pavement. Worse yet, you can end up with cracks in the foundation of your building, creating an unsafe environment—and costing you thousands of dollars.
Legal Liability And Property Management Responsibilities
You are responsible for clearing the snow and ice on your property; if someone injures themselves because of negligence, you may end up being legally liable for their injuries. Snow and ice removal services can help you mitigate your risk by clearing hazards away from your property.
Essential Snow Removal Strategies For Commercial Properties
Preventative Planning And Winter Preparedness
Hiring a snow removal service is one way to protect your business, but before the first snowflake falls, you can take action to prepare your business for winter. Here are a few things you can do to keep your business running smoothly when the cold hits:
- Make sure your staff has easy access to snow removal tools, like shovels, snowblowers, and de-icers.
- Have emergency supplies in place, including a heating source, a lighting source, jackets, boots, and other winter gear, as well as first aid kids, satellite phones, and other critical equipment in case blizzards take power or phone lines down.
- Do a maintenance check; make sure there are no weak points in your building’s insulation and double-check all the weatherstripping. Test your alarms and your equipment.
- Have signs available to warn people when conditions are icy.
- Call commercial snow-clearing companies to compare their services and prices to choose a contractor before snow begins to fall.
Frequency Of Snow Removal Services
There are many different ways to schedule snow removal services. You can call on-demand, but you risk being a lower priority than clients with commercial snow removal contracts. Seasonal contracts are much more common, and snow removal is triggered after a certain amount of snowfall. This keeps your property clean and safe.
Larger businesses may also schedule snow removal at specific times; it all depends on your needs. Our snow removal company offers 24/7 weather condition monitoring, updates when snowfall triggers a clearing, and proactive scheduling when we see storm clouds on the horizon.
Choosing The Right Snow Removal Equipment And Techniques
Specialized Equipment For Commercial Properties
Snow and ice management on commercial properties can be tricky; there are parking lots, entryways, walkways, and more that need to be cleared—and they need to be cleared quickly and efficiently. Your snow removal company may use a number of different types of equipment to get the job done, including:
- Snow Plows
- Snow Blowers
- Skid Steers and Loaders
- Dump Trucks
- Salt Spreaders
- Rotary Brooms
- Shovels and other Hand Tools
With a full suite of equipment, a snow clearing company can more effectively clear the snow on both large and small paved surfaces. When choosing a snow clearing company, it’s worth asking what equipment it has, and when and why it uses it.
De-Icing Solutions And Environmental Considerations
Winter weather comes with snow and ice, and a de-icing solution is crucial for businesses looking to avoid slip-and-fall accidents. There’s a problem, though; de-icing tools can leech into groundwater and create environmental risks.
To make sure your property remains safe without harming the environment, it’s important to talk to your snow removal company about the tools and chemicals it uses for ice management.
Compliance And Safety Standards In Commercial Snow Removal
Calgary Municipal Snow Removal Bylaws
Calgary’s snow removal bylaws are fairly strict; they exist to ensure that every property owner pitches in to clear sidewalks and other pathways are usable within 24 hours of snowfall ending. We recommend reading the bylaws to get a better understanding of what’s expected of property owners.
These bylaws mean it is your responsibility to clear snow and ice on walkways adjacent to your business. Your snow removal plan must include clearing snow on these surfaces. Using a snow removal service is a great way to remove snow from walkways, parking lots, and more, keeping your business accessible to customers and keeping you in line with the City’s bylaws.
Workplace Safety Regulations
OHS and other workplace safety regulations exist to protect workers. When a worker is injured on your property because you neglected to remove snow and ice, you may be found liable.
Regulations require you to ensure that your employees are protected from cold temperatures, through clothing, warming stations, or other means. You’ll also need to ensure that you properly maintain snow removal equipment to mitigate risks.
The training, equipment, and maintenance required to comply with workplace safety regulations can impose heavy costs on a business—and these costs may not even lead to effective snow removal. By hiring a snow removal service, businesses can limit the risk to their employees, protecting everyone’s health and safety.
Ensuring Business Continuity Through Professional Snow Removal
When the snow falls this winter season, you’ll need a snow and ice management plan to keep up with winter maintenance. Hiring a professional snow removal company keeps your business open to customers, mitigates the risk to visitors and employees, and helps you comply with Calgary’s bylaws.
At Infinity Asphalt, we offer snow and ice management for commercial properties in Calgary and the surrounding area. Our commercial snow removal services will keep your business safe and accessible after everything from a moderate snowfall to the heaviest winter storm.
We’re currently accepting new clients for the winter season; contact us for commercial snow removal services today.