Snow clearing operators work in a hazardous and litigious landscape. There is the risk of slip-and-fall claims, property damage caused by heavy equipment, and mistakes made by employees – all of which can lead to lawsuits.
If you run a snow clearing business in Canada, there are risk mitigation steps you can take to help prevent costly incidents and help manage your insurance costs.
How to minimize risk and insurance premiums
Work logs: Keep comprehensive logs that record time of work, who performed it, location and customer’s name, and what exactly was done (scraping, salting, sanding, post-work inspection etc.). You should also document the condition of the site before and after the work with photos. Click here to see a sample snow log.
Incident reporting: Maintain an incident report database to record any incidents that occur, along with claimant details and description of events. These details should be shared with your insurance broker or agent for review in a timely manner and submitted to the insurer if needed.
Code of conduct: Turn your best practices and protocols into a written code of conduct that you and your team adhere to daily. It can include snow log procedure, incident reporting protocol, and problem-solving mechanisms. Share the code with your broker when approaching insurers for coverage.
Hire skilled workers: Employees with more experience will generally reduce risks.
Consider your deductible: Understand your options when it comes to insurance deductibles. A higher deductible will usually result in lower premiums, and the opposite also holds true. Do what makes sense for your business.
Carefully review contracts: Before signing a contract with a prospective client, consider having a lawyer review to ensure the terms are acceptable to you.
If you maintain snow logs, have a code of conduct, and an incident reporting protocol, make sure to convey these details to your broker, agent or insurer. Sharing the details of your risk management practices can go a long way in making sure your coverage fits your business and reflects the steps you've taken to reduce risk.
A little preparation now can protect your business, reduce the risk of claims, and prevent costly headaches later.
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