October is here and many areas of the UK are already be experiencing frost. So if you are if you haven’t already done so, it is important to act now to organise gritting contractors for your organisation.
At this time of year gritting contractors have already put various measures in place to ensure they are prepared well in advance of any cold snaps. Early preparations are vital, as from October onwards some parts of the UK can experience sub-zero temperatures overnight. October can also bring early snowfall, and areas most at risk are northerly parts of the UK, that are on higher ground.
Some companies battling with the heavy rainfall over summer and early autumn now face the possibility of further damage to their business as a result of ice and snow – unless they seek the help of professional gritting contractors.
Ice and snow can be extremely disruptive and can hit trade hard, not to mention the loss of working hours. Weather forecasters have warned that winter weather is likely to arrive earlier this year, so organising gritting contractors now will give you complete peace of mind in the coming months.
We know all know too well the hazards caused by harsh weather: snow-filled private driveways, roads and car parks can hold up deliveries and prevent staff and customers arriving. In addition to this, icy walkways present a danger to pedestrians – your employees or customers – who could fall and injure themselves. And if this happens, it could potentially leave your company wide open to a costly legal claim, not to mention the impact on your business of having employees off sick with injuries.
This is why it is so important to seek the services of a private gritting contractor. Ice Watch offer a comprehensive private gritting service to businesses throughout England and Scotland. Our service includes carrying out a thorough risk assessment at each site, daily weather monitoring throughout the winter months, keeping detailed records of action taken and performing gritting as required – ensuring companies meet their health and safety legal requirements. What's more, all of our clients are covered by a £10 million public liability insurance should they ever need it.
Here we shall look at why gritting contractors are needed and the preparations Ice Watch make during the summer and autumn months.
Gritting Contractors - click here for full information on our gritting service
Gritting Contractors Autumn Preparation
There are various preparations that gritting contractors make in advance of winter weather. All this groundwork means they are fully prepared for any cold snaps and it also ensures they carry out a thorough and professional job.
Check Stocks of Grit – This is done not only at the beginning of the season but also regularly throughout the winter. Ice Watch’s main salt stocks are kept in Suffolk, England and also in Scotland. Our local operators also hold stocks of salt and keep a minimum of a week’s salt for their sites. When salt stocks are required, they are usually delivered to the main stores in England or Scotland and are then distributed to the local operators. However, they can also be delivered direct to an operator. From October to April, daily checks are made to ensure that salt is stocked up in all these places.
Service Machinery and Equipment – Before October, Ice Watch machinery and equipment is serviced and refurbished. Ice Watch also acquire new equipment to fulfil new contracts which is done well in advance.
Recruit and Train Staff – Ice Watch will check its network of local gritting contractors to ensure there is enough coverage, based on the number of clients on our books. If not, Ice Watch may need to take on new operators and these personnel will need to be trained to fulfil new contracts. We will also recruit new support staff as necessary to work in the offices, such as taking an administrative role, working on the computers, and answering telephone calls.
Full Risk Assessments – We perform detailed risk assessments for all our client sites, including identifying areas staff and customers use that are most likely to be affected by ice, such as short cuts, slopes, car parks and walkways. Once these are identified, maps are drawn up for the operators. The operators who will be carrying out the work are then taken to the site and briefed on what they have to do there. This means contractors are personally familiar with your site and how to access it, so they can get to work quickly and efficiently when ice and snow begin to appear.
Gritting Contractors – A Vital Service in Winter
Ice and snow is not just an occasional hazard with bad winters only every ten or 20 years. Hazardous weather is becoming more frequent with many forecasters predicting more severe winters as a general pattern.
This highlights an urgent need to have an ongoing relationship with reliable gritting contractors to ensure you are fully prepared.
About Ice Watch
Ice Watch is a nationwide gritting company that takes a proactive approach to gritting, to keep outdoor areas clear of ice and snow.
At each site, conditions are monitored daily from October to April, using highly localised weather reports. We carry out full risk assessments and detailed records are kept for use in the event of a claim.
Gritting Contractors - click here for full information on our gritting service
