DON’T SLIP UP ON WINTER SAFETY
David Gajda, national operations director of ECO Integrated Property Solutions, offers maintenance advice on keeping safe, compliant and open for business throughout winter.
With colder weather upon us and extreme weather experienced across the globe over recent months, everyone should be preparing their properties for the winter months.
By creating a robust winter maintenance plan, property managers can ensure they meet their duty of care, achieve compliance, manage risk, meet insurer’s expectations and allow business continuity.
By ignoring the relevant health and safety legislation, you are at greater risk of legal action. An ad hoc service approach is no longer adequate and increases the risk of lost revenue, damaged reputation, accident liability claims or shut-downs.
DUTY OF CARE The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 talks about the duty of care
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but many managers do not realise this extends beyond staff to anyone visiting or passing by the facility, including suppliers on company business and members of the public. All organisations must be able to demonstrate that they have done everything reasonably possible to meet their duty of care and that they have met all health and safety legislation.
MANAGING RISKS Ideally, winter maintenance should be an all-year-round job. Late spring and early summer is the best time to review the winter maintenance plan and allocate budget to address jobs such as the possibility of burst pipes, the weight of snow on roofs and the ingress of water.
HEATING SYSTEMS Issues with heating are likely to occur during the transition from autumn
to winter when there is a surge from standby to maximum capacity, which can result in breakdowns and service outages. Regular maintenance of HVAC systems should be carried out by qualified engineers to avoid catastrophic failures and down time. It is a legal obligation for businesses to ensure that any heating appliance and installation pipework is maintained in a safe condition and boilers should also be inspected at least once a year.
Windows and doors account for significant heat loss in winter. Check for drafts, leaks and cracks that can allow heated air to escape. Frozen and burst pipes are the leading cause of property damage from winter weather. Just a small fracture can release many gallons of water, damaging masonry and plaster, carpets and other contents. Regular detailed
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