In part two of a three part series, we are providing you with tips to protect your business from outside risks, meaning any hazards that could occur on your business premises, outside your building.
We hope that by providing you with tips to protect your business from outside hazards, you will be aware of any outside risks that can be avoided. It is important to continually assess your surroundings and predict potential weaknesses on your property, outside your business building.
While not all incidents can be predicted, it is important that you work to avoid issues from occurring. We have provided you with the following tips to help protect your business from outside risks, these tips have been adapted by Intact Insurance.
Tips to Avoid Outside Risks
Exterior Lighting
Exterior lighting is essential; it assists with making walk ways more visible, avoiding trips and falls and it also acts a deterrent for vandals and theft. Ensure you have adequate, automatic lighting for all exterior areas; parking lots, driveways, walkways and crosswalks.
Property Fencing
Having fencing or gating surrounding your business property is a great investment considering it acts as a deterrent for vandalism and theft, not to mention access to your property. Be sure that your fence meets municipal bylaws.
Exterior Maintenance
Have your exterior surfaces, including driveways, parking lots, walkways and crosswalks routinely serviced and maintained. Especially during the winter season, all snow and ice should be cleared consistently. Be sure to keep up annual maintenance including ensuring all walking surfaces are level, smooth and slip resistant. Any exterior building damage, such as brick, tiles, stucco, etc. should be repaired as soon as possible. All maintenance (even daily) must be logged.
Traffic Flow
It is important to manage traffic flow on your property, as this helps prevent accidents. Having entrances and exits clearly identified, speed bumps, speed direction, mirrors to see around corners and parking bumpers, all assist to improve traffic flow and safety. Parking bumpers help protect by limiting vehicles coming into contact with your building.
Landscaping Maintenance
A daily/regular clean-up schedule is important to ensuring all garbage, debris and waste material are consistently removed from the property, including the perimeter of the building. Landscaping is important to ensure you do not have any bushes, overgrown grass and branches creating any tripping hazards, or overhead falling hazards.
Building Codes
It is essential you are aware of any National and Provincial Building codes that must be maintained and followed, including the classification of the occupancy of a building.
We hope that you have found our tips to avoid outside risks for your business beneficial and informative. Be sure to read part one of this three part series called, Tips to Protect Your Business – Inside Risks and check back for the third installment on cyber risk.
Having complete business insurance is invaluable; make sure your business is protected. If you would like Youngs Insurance Brokers to review your existing coverage, and provide you with an analysis of your policy at no charge, please contact us today!
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>> Tips to Protect Your Business – Inside Risks>> Why Small Businesses Need Insurance