Making certain that a church facility is safe for employers and visitors is an essential part of effective risk management. Churches located in cold weather areas should take particular care to include ice management as part of their overall safety plan. Church leaders can ask for advice concerning the management of accumulated and melted ice when they receive an annual church insurance quote from an agent that specializes in church insurance liability coverage.
Church Insurance
The operators of a church facility assume a legal obligation to maintain the safety of the buildings and grounds. Visitors and employees may be at risk when potential safety risks are ignored or allowed to fester. Exercising reasonable care is the accepted standard of premises liability.
Church congregants have the right to expect to be protected from unreasonable risk or injury. Pursuing an annual church insurance quote provides an ideal opportunity to carefully review potential safety concerns. Injuries caused by winter ice are among the most common premises liability claims. Slip and fall injuries can be caused by ice buildup on entryways, sidewalks, stairs and parking lots.
Property Liability
The operator of a church facility is responsible for eliminating hazards that may impose unreasonable risk to church members, employees and visitors. Immediate action is recommended to avoid unnecessary liability, insurance claims and lawsuits. Under the law, a property owner can be held liable for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. Legal expenses related to determining legal liability in an injury case can also accrue quickly.
In cold weather cities like Cleveland, managing ice buildup and hazards caused by melted ice should be taken seriously. Even minor details like emptying a mop bucket outside deserve special consideration. If the water runs onto a sidewalk and freezes overnight, the result is a significant hazard that could have been avoided altogether. A little forethought and training can eliminate potential hazards and reduce insurance costs.
Melted Ice
Elderly church members and scampering children are especially vulnerable to patches of slippery ice. The snow has a tendency to melt during the day and run onto concrete or stone surfaces. The final destination of ice water flowing out of downspouts deserves special attention. Finally, be certain that melting mounds of snow, the inevitable result of snow shoveling and plowing, is destined to flow away from sidewalks and parking lots when it melts.
Cleaning rain gutters and moving snow to lower elevations can prevent the buildup of ice and prevent costly injuries. When the sun decides to make a brief appearance after a winter storm, dry walking surfaces are a good indication that ice patches won’t be a problem in the morning. A comprehensive safety plan can help prevent avoidable injuries and unnecessary insurance claims.
