Feature Logistics


e don’t have a crystal ball to tell you when and where it will snow or indeed if you will be enjoying a white Christmas this year. However, what we can tell you is that it will snow and you need to be ready when it does.


At a Met Office conference earlier this year it was highlighted that there is not enough information to say whether winters are going to get colder or not, however what they did say is that when winter weather hits it’s more extreme than ever before. Research by Green Flag at the begin- ning of 2013 estimated that the cost of business closures due to snow during the 2012 winter was £318million. Costs which could have been reduced, or even avoided entirely if businesses were suitably prepared.


Unlike other outsourced service providers including window cleaners or stationary suppliers – whose services are great to have but if your windows are a little dirty the company won’t fall to the ground – gritting is clearly an insurance purchase. If snow takes hold of your business without you being on the front foot with regard to planning then your business is left exposed to all manner of problems including access issues, property damage, business closures, safety hazards, staff injuries - and rep- utational damage.


Weighing up the costs In today’s economy we understand that price is a real concern for busi- nesses and many can be put off by the upfront cost of outsourced services. However, I would urge people to think seriously about the costs associated


that is carries out bespoke risk assess- ments for your site. It is critical this is in place as no two sites are ever identi- cal. If you have a representative on site who will take responsibility for grit- ting, have they been shown how to apply salt, do they know when the best time is to carry it out, do they have the appropriate clothing and equipment? Unfortunately, it’s not as simple and throwing a bit of salt on the ground here and there but there is training available that will ensure your repre- sentative understands all of the above, and is properly prepared. We hold contracts with several of the industry’s biggest logistics firms, all serving factories and who have con- tinuity plans in place to ensure their fleets aren’t grounded when tempera- tures drop below zero. However, despite their best efforts to keep their own businesses moving, if


Proactive gritting and snow clearance ensures both staff and vehicles can access the building safely


ideal in peak periods such as the run- up to Christmas.


Safety is a further consideration; under section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), employers have a legal responsibility to ensure the workplace is safe. If any area is deemed to be unsafe the company must take action to reduce and remove, where possible, any risks. This is where proactive gritting and snow clearance can help. It ensures that both staff and vehicles can access the building safely.


So, can you afford to close your business when it snows? There is no reason why you should need to. The trick is not to worry about whether or not it will snow but about being pre- pared for when it does – by doing this, the weather is inconsequential.


Good planning


“If you don’t have a business continuity plan in place when the snow arrives, use this time to think about it while you are feeling the pinch”


with emergency call-outs, accidents and - importantly - the reputation of their business.


When it comes to implementing a business continuity plan there are var- ious factors to consider where gritting is concerned but the main one to decide well in advance is will you out- source the work to a contractor or will someone take responsibility inter- nally? If you decide to outsource be sure to check the contractor has trained its operatives appropriately, that it has the correct insurance and


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logistics firms can’t access their cus- tomers’ sites to collect goods, the deliv- ery of time-critical loads can be significantly delayed. The supply chain is just that: if one link breaks it has a knock-on effect right down the line.


Accessibility


Accessibility is understandably one of the principal considerations for factories; without it vehicles can’t col- lect or deliver on-time and this can result in factories becoming backed up with goods – a situation that is far from


If you don’t have a business continuity plan in place when the snow arrives, use this time to think about it while you are feeling the pinch. It is hard to think about what the pain points will be in adverse weather conditions during the warmer months, so now is an ideal time to take stock of what you can do differently the following year. There are many credible companies out there who live and breathe winter maintenance. So call upon their exper- tise now and seek advice to ensure your sites remain safe and operational this winter.


GRITIT T: +44(0)203 159 5270 www.gritit.com


NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 Materials Handling & Logistics


Don’t let the snow take control W


How important is it for businesses to prepare for snow and ice and the potential implications if a business continuity plan is not place before the weather turns? Nikki Singh-Barmi, MD of GRITIT explains


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