An Everyday Business Risk You May Be Overlooking: Maintaining Your Parking Lot

While not the flashiest part of your business, your parking lot serves your employees, customers, and vendors. Having a well-lit, well-maintained parking lot is an important step to help mitigate the risk of slip, trip and fall accidents before they occur.

Don’t Let Bad Lighting Slide

Trip and slip hazards, like uneven pavement or a patch of ice, are hard to see in low light. Be sure all your exterior lights are in good working condition, and that all areas are properly illuminated. A smart strategy is coming up with a schedule to replace lightbulbs before they burn out.

If you want to keep an eye on energy use, motion sensor lights may be worth considering. Many modern models illuminate at a lower standby level until motion is detected, at which point they increase to full brightness.  

A well-lit parking lot can also deter criminal activity. Good lighting helps capture better footage on security cameras.

If your lights are on timers, don’t forget to adjust these for daylight savings.

Know How Water Drains from Your Parking Lot

When water can’t drain properly, it can create problems. Standing water can create slippery algae, and in colder climates, turn into patches of ice.

Check that storm drains are properly cleared out, and water drains away from pedestrian areas. Walk your parking lot after a rainstorm to see where water puddles.

A major red flag that you may have a drainage problem: ducks making your parking lot their home, which can indicate standing water.

Identify Tripping Hazards

Be on the lookout in your parking lot for uneven surfaces or debris. It doesn’t take a lot of variation to cause problems. Even something as small as a half an inch can be a tripping hazard.

When you find areas that could be a tripping hazard, schedule maintenance as soon as possible. In the meantime, block off dangerous areas with cones or tape to prevent access until the repair is made.

If your parking lot has speed bumps or wheel stops, regularly paint them with a bright color so that they will stand out. Plows or vehicles can move wheel stops, so develop a plan to keep them in place, and evaluate if they are really needed.

If you have stairs, consider marking the edge of each stair with bright paint, and create a maintenance schedule for when they should be refreshed. Make sure handrails are secure, and at an appropriate height. Attempt to repair steps that have irregular sizes, and if you cannot, make sure you put warning signs in plain view.

Consider Adding Bollards and Posts if You Have Not Already  

Evaluate whether or not it makes sense to add more bollards or posts around the entrances and exits to your building. Bollards can help to prevent pedestrians being injured.

Review Your Plans for Snow and Ice Removal

Carefully review your snow removal procedures and/or contracts to ensure main pathways, entryways, and emergency exits will be appropriately and timely cleared and sanded/salted.

How Often Should You Re-Stripe Your Parking Lot?

Many factors can contribute to how often a parking lot should be re-striped. These may include:

• The climate
• The amount of traffic your parking lot experiences
• The condition of your pavement

Some high traffic areas, such as crosswalks or entrances, may need attention sooner than other areas.

Some red flags that your parking lot may need to be restriped are employee or customer complaints about unclear lines.  

A common strategy is to plan for a refresh every 1-3 years.

ADA Compliance

Review the most recent American with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and analyze if your parking lot needs to make any changes.

When Shrubs Become Dangerous

Landscaping in parking lots also can play an important role in safety. Tall shrubs can potentially obstruct a driver’s view, making it hard to see pedestrians or even other cars. Overgrown landscaping can also block security cameras. Plan for regular maintenance of trees and shrubs on your property.

Be Sure Signage is Clear

Crosswalks, entrances, and exits should all be appropriately marked. ADA parking signs must comply with strict guidelines. Make sure to check and comply with all applicable codes and regulations.

Review Your Insurance

If you have any questions regarding your business’ insurance coverage, reach out to one of our local offices today. At Cross Insurance, we’ve been insuring businesses throughout the Northeast for decades. From coffee shops to convention centers, our agents can show you insurance options. 

 

 

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This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.