Whether you are a business owner or a property manager in the New Jersey area, your responsibilities when it comes to snow removal are the same. It’s important that you are ready for the snowfall that’s going to come when the winter arrives.
The problem with many New Jersey businesses is that they make some crucial snow removal mistakes that could endanger employees, shoppers, or tenants, and threaten the property itself. Here are three commercial snow removal mistakes you should try to avoid and how to make them right.
Common Snow Removal Mistakes
1 – Poor Planning
Just because there are weather forecasts that can help give you an idea of when snow is likely to show up doesn’t mean you shouldn’t create a detailed snow removal plan. The old adage, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail” is especially true when it comes to commercial snow removal.
A solid snow removal plan is much more in-depth than simply reading a forecast and reacting when it snows. For one, forecasts are unreliable on when the snow falls. But even if they were correct all the time, you need a plan that dictates the type of snow removal equipment that will be used, which areas take priority over others, how snow is going to be removed overnight, and how quickly the snow will be removed after it does snow and the snow piles up.
How to Make It Right
The key to having a plan that you know will get the job done every time is to be proactive rather than reactive. And the best way to do that is to sign on with a reputable company that handles snow removal for commercial business that will sit down with you and create a plan that ensures your property is covered no matter what happens during the winter.
2 – Poor Salt Management
For commercial property, salt can be either your best friend or your worst enemy when the snow starts flying during the winter weather. One big mistake that many NJ businesses make in the winter is to use too little or too much salt after a snowfall. Removing snow in a timely manner is great, but if you don’t salt after you shovel snow or don’t add enough salt, you run the risk of employees, tenants, or shoppers getting injured in slip and fall accidents. Obviously, you don’t want anyone to get hurt, but you also don’t want the possibility of a lawsuit.
Another issue with salt management is using too much salt. Many business owners or property managers get overzealous with the salt distribution to be sure that all surfaces are easy to walk on, but that can create other problems. Too much salt can damage vehicles, grass, trees, and shrubs, and cause damage indoors to floors, carpets, and furniture.
How to Make It Right
The key to proper salt management is to use a formula for how much salt to use and to take precautions around your property to prevent damage. At Neave Group, we apply a specific amount of salt when the pavement temperature is higher than 30 degrees and then increase that amount as temperatures drop until it’s roughly 15 degrees, which is when the salt is no longer effective. We also install silt fences around the landscaped areas of your property to keep the salt away.
3 – Taking the DIY Approach
While the DIY approach may work well for specific areas of commercial property management, people seem to get into trouble when it comes to commercial snow removal. When you are focused on running your business, snow removal may slip down the priority list, which could spell trouble if people can’t get in and out of your property because of too much snow or someone slips and is injured.
Tackling commercial snow removal, yourself can also lead to potential injuries for you or your employees, such as back issues from shoveling snow or bumps and bruises from slips and falls, or even a heart attack in the worst-case scenario. Not to mention, it’s challenging to keep driveways, sidewalks, and entrances clear at all times, especially when there is heavy snowfall overnight.
How to Make It Right
Naturally, the solution to challenges with the DIY approach is to hire a commercial snow removal contractor to do it for you. When you have a professional team in control, you can focus on more important aspects of your business and will have the most significant benefit of all, which is peace of mind.
If you want to ensure your commercial property is taken care of this winter, Neave Group has the team, the equipment, and the experience to get the job done right. We are SN-9001 ISO certified, which illustrates our commitment to quality and customer service. Contact us today by completing the form on this page or give us a call at (845) 463-0592 for Hudson Valley, (914) 271-7996 for Westchester, or (203) 212-4800 for Connecticut businesses, and (201) 591-4570 for New Jersey.