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‘WEATHER’ YOU’RE READY OR NOT
James Shaw of Darwin Clayton shares some tips on making sure you’re ready for any severe weather this winter.
Is there anything more British (apart from the Great British Bake Off, of course) than talking about the weather? Whether the sun is blazing down, the rain is teeming from the sky or you can’t see past the end of your nose in the fog, there’s always something to comment on or complain about.
I’m no meteorologist, and I certainly wouldn’t confidently claim a certain weather event would definitely happen or not happen. However, it should come as no surprise to hear someone from the insurance industry say it’s important you do more than just talk about the weather and take steps to prepare for the worst.
In order to keep your workers safe and customers happy during extreme weather you need to be prepared and have a plan in place. Like most business threats, being prepared for the elements could be an opportunity to shine when all around you are slipping up (in this case literally).
When was the last time you reviewed your Business Continuity Plan? Probably this time last year, as the nights were drawing in. That means it’s time to dig out that file again and ensure everything is up-to-date and accurate.
You and your colleagues need to know how you’ll provide your service in the event of heavy or continual snow, seemingly inevitable floods, transport disruption, power cuts, or other
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incidents that make normal working impossible. And if you really can’t get past the weather, what then?
Communication is key. Making sure everyone on your team knows what to do in the event of extreme weather is vital to successfully taking on the worst Mother Nature throws at you. It’s also important to ensure you let customers know of any issues as soon as possible. They don’t want to be wondering if their cleaning operative has had an accident if they don’t arrive.
Your plan should include a list of all the telephone numbers of the people you’ll need to contact: staff, customers, suppliers, your insurance company, emergency plumber/electrician, etc. This list must be updated regularly and kept in a safe, but accessible place.
You should also check that you are sufficiently covered for accidents, emergencies and business continuity issues; contact your insurer or insurance broker if you’re unsure. You don’t want a temporary weather incident to have a long-term detrimental effect on your business.
There are important practical steps to consider too. Such as how will you keep your premises free of snow and ice, especially around the entrances? According to the Hospital Episode Statistics for England there were 2,919 admissions to hospital in 2014/15 as a result of people falling over on snow or ice. It’s important you do what you can
to avoid anyone under your watch adding to those figures.
Knowing which locations need to be treated with salt and grit first (and who’s going to do it) will speed the process immeasurably and could prevent accidents. Check you have the correct materials and equipment for each task.
There will be elements outside your control that can significantly impact on your business’ ability to operate successfully during bad weather. For instance, figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show that in 2014, 29 people were killed, 251 were seriously injured and 2,274 were slightly injured in reported road accidents on Great Britain's roads when there was snow or ice on the road surface.
You can’t control road conditions or other drivers, but you should encourage staff to plan alternative routes to work and to carry the recommended winter kit in case they face delays. Where possible, enabling staff to work from home can help.
By preparing for the worst, surviving any challenging conditions should be a straightforward task and soggy bottoms can be avoided, which can only be a good thing, in Bake Off or severe weather.
www.darwinclayton.co.uk Tomorrow’s Cleaning | 33
WINTER IS COMING,
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