COVER STORY
7,031 people needed treatment in hospital after slipping on ice or snow in 2012/13. The winter of 2013/14 saw milder conditions and this number lowered to around 1,200.
Reputational damage Coupled with a potential claim for injury or death would be the harm to an organisation's reputation. Failing to safely grit premises puts a business not only at risk of financial liability from claims but they may also encounter other issues, such as loss of revenue through closure, targets not being met and damaged reputation.
The value of engaging in a winter partnership Of course measuring the level of risk, deciding on a winter maintenance policy your company is comfortable with, and executing it can be tricky. If the actions you take aren't deemed sufficient, then you could be leaving yourself open to a potential claim.
Claims can range from a
few thousand to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
FMs that put a plan in place with their customers are effectively taking out a 'winter insurance policy'. This covers all parties for when the weather does become harsh, helping the organisation in question to remain open and operational during periods of extreme weather.
We work in partnership with our clients; no two contracts are the same and we ensure that the levels of service match the exact requirements of the premises in question. We have always followed a ‘plan, do, review’ process, and because we are operating within strict timeframes, this enables us to be ready to provide our services where and when it is needed, to the high standards possible.
Case Study: Huddersfield Royal Infirmary
Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (HRI) opened in 1965, and is the specialist centre for emergency, planned complex, orthopaedic and vascular surgery, for the people of Huddersfield and Calderdale. The estate, located in Lindley, covers approximately 7.8 acres of land. A 400-bed hospital, the site employs several thousand staff.
The estates management and operational team are required to provide safe, suitable access 24/7 to patients, visitors and staff. Historically directly employed labour worked around the clock to ensure roads and walkways were free from ice and snow, this involved using heavy agricultural machinery.
During the summer of 2016, the Trust opted to review their operational response to adverse weather and evaluated cost, quality, risk and resources. De-ice was subsequently commissioned as the Trust's out-of-hours winter gritting and snow clearance service provider, which commenced in Winter 2016.
Chris Davies, General Manager: Estates Technical Services, said: "The site's position and location mean that the hospital is quite exposed, and we often experience dreadful weather. It isn't unusual for it to become very icy, and - in the past - we have had vast amounts of snow.
"Access and egress to the site for the blue light services is paramount. And we need to ensure that pathways are cleared for patients, staff and visitors. When it comes to winter gritting, cutting corners is just not an option.
"We really value the weather alerts that come through from De-ice, so we know when service will take place and - equally - the audit trail is invaluable."
time comes, they have the necessary safety blanket in place. An historical average for the site postcode is used to calculate a fixed-cost price for each season. This helps both us (as the supplier), and the client to effectively plan. Other clients want the option to pay as they go while still receiving a proactive, fully-monitored service. In this case you will only pay for what you use.
It is about keeping on top of the customer's needs and requirements. It is harder to fulfil a contract to its full potential when it's on an ad-hoc basis, or has been implemented at the last minute.
We have worked with some clients for more than 10 years, constantly refreshing and monitoring throughout the service period. For many opting for fixed three or five year contracts provides the peace of mind that, when the
www.tomorrowsfm.com
A full site survey, risk assessment and method statement dictate the gritting and snow clearance plan for the season ahead. And our investment in the most advanced weather forecasting systems, coupled with tracking technology and state of the art equipment, ensure we deliver the highest levels of service. At all times our aim is to reduce the exposure to risk - enabling our clients to rely on an extensive audit trail.
www.de-ice.co.uk TOMORROW’S FM | 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66