Extreme weather can cause cause damage and disruption to your business premises. As a business owner, you have a duty to keep your premises (including pavements, car parks and other land) clear and safe from hazards.
To help you prepare for storms and flooding, the SEIB team is advising the following steps and precautions to safeguard your property.
Prepare for a storm
- Secure loose objects in your grounds - such as ladders, wheelbarrows, furniture or anything else that could be blown into windows and other glazing
- Close and securely fasten doors and windows, particularly those on the windward side of the building and especially large doors such as those on garages
- Park vehicles in a garage, if available; otherwise keep them clear of buildings, trees, walls and fences
- Close and secure loft trapdoors with bolts, particularly if the roof pitch is less than 30°
- If your building is fitted with storm shutters over the windows then ensure that these are closed and fastened.
What to do during a storm
- Stay indoors as much as possible
- If you do go out, try not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees
- Keep away from the sheltered side of boundary walls and fences — if these structures fail, they will collapse on this side
- Do not go outside to repair damage while the storm is in progress
- If possible, enter and leave your building through doors in the sheltered side, closing them behind you
- Open internal doors only as needed, and close them behind you
- Do not drive unless your journey is really necessary
- Take care when driving on exposed routes such as bridges, or high open roads, delay your journey or find alternative routes if possible
- Slow down and be aware of side winds, particular care should be taken if you are towing or if you’re driving a high sided vehicle
- Do not park cars near any seafront area as damage by waves and shingle blown from a beach can cause significant damage
- Do not stand too near any seafront areas. The large waves are a danger.
After the storm
- Be careful not to touch any electrical/telephone cables that have been blown down or are still hanging
- Do not walk too close to walls, buildings and trees as they could have been weakened
- Make sure that any vulnerable neighbours or relatives are safe and help them make arrangements for any repairs.
Arrange insurance cover
Whilst the above are all useful actions to take in protecting against storms, it’s impossible to guard against all scenarios. Having comprehensive insurance cover in place will ensure that help will be on hand should the worst happen:
- Public liability insurance can cover against slips, trips and falls suffered by third parties
- Employers’ liability insurance can cover against slips, trips and falls suffered by employees
- Buildings and contents insurance can cover against escape of water claims and damage caused by extreme weather conditions, while business interruption cover protects against any loss of income (or increased costs of working) resulting from the incident
