8 ways to start winter-proofing your business

As winter approaches and temperatures drop, businesses are facing a range of cold-weather threats. From frozen pipes to power outages and more, these risks can disrupt operations, endanger employees and lead to costly repairs. 

If you’re a business owner, preparing for the winter isn’t just about staying warm — it’s about staying resilient. Here are eight smart steps you can take now to protect your people, property and productivity before extreme winter conditions hit. 

1. Assess your roof

Your roof is your business’s first line of defense against severe weather. Before winter, make sure your roof is structurally sound and capable of handling heavy loads. Accumulated snow can add significant weight, so it’s important to inspect it ahead of time to ensure there’s no risk of roof collapse. 

Ice can also wreak havoc on roofs, especially in the form of ice dams. These are created when warm air in the attic melts snow on the roof, which then refreezes at the roof’s edges. This blocks drainage and causes water leaks inside the building. By improving attic insulation and sealing air leaks, you can protect your roof from ice dams and avoid costly disruptions.

2. Prepare for power loss

Power outages are common during the wintertime. Whether caused by iced-over utility lines or severe storms, losing power can halt operations and lead to significant losses. Backup generators are essential, especially for facilities that rely on uninterrupted power, like manufacturing plants, medical offices, grocery stores and cold storage sites.

However, simply having a generator isn’t enough. Generators often sit unused for years, so they should be regularly maintained and updated to ensure they’re still reliable and properly sized for your business’s needs. Having automatic generators is ideal, as they’ll kick in immediately and provide more power than portable units. 

3. Manage surrounding risks

Trees and branches near your building can become hazards during winter storms. Heavy ice and snow can weigh them down, causing them to fall onto roofs, solar panels and other property. To reduce this risk, regularly trim the trees around your building and remove any dead branches. If your building has solar panels, keeping branches away from the roof can also prevent animals from nesting under the panels and chewing on wires, which is a common cause of electrical fires.

4. Plan for flooding and water damage

In coastal regions, nor’easters and winter storms can cause seawater flooding that knocks out generators and damages machinery. Saltwater is particularly corrosive and can lead to long-term issues within your equipment and building. Before winter arrives, you should assess your business’s flood and erosion risk, and take mitigation measures if necessary.

5. Protect outdoor employees

Extreme cold doesn’t just impact property; it also affects people. Employees working in frigid conditions can only be outside safely for a limited time. They also require more breaks to warm up, which can slow down productivity. Keep your workers’ safety and limitations in mind during the wintertime so you can plan and schedule work accordingly.

6. Build an emergency response plan

A well-developed emergency response plan can significantly reduce anxiety and improve recovery outcomes. Having established relationships with adjusters, brokers, mitigation experts and recovery contractors can ensure a smoother response when disaster strikes.

The Texas freeze of 2021 highlighted the importance of planning for extreme winter weather events. When pipes froze across the state, the demand for replacement materials far exceeded the supply in the region, which delayed recovery for businesses that weren’t prepared. Those with emergency plans and established relationships were able to restore their operations much sooner.

7. Communicate and coordinate

Effective communication is key to navigating extreme cold weather events. Start thinking about how you’ll keep your team informed about safety protocols, operational changes and emergency updates. Make sure you have the most up-to-date contact information and a messaging system to reach them easily. Additionally, consider coordinating response plans with nearby businesses and local utilities so you can work together to speed up recovery. 

8. Review insurance policies

Finally, review your insurance policies to ensure your business’s risks are covered. You should work with your broker or risk manager to confirm that things like off-premises power outages, flooding and equipment breakdowns are included in your policy. Look out for any exclusions and low sub-limits, and fill in any coverage gaps before winter hits. 

While extreme weather is unpredictable, preparation is within your control. By following the steps above, you can safeguard your property, protect your people and keep your business moving forward through even the harshest winter conditions.

Need help winter-proofing your business? No matter where you are in the world, our property experts are ready to help. Learn more.