When winter arrives in Indiana, so does the need to clear the snow and ice that accumulate on sidewalks and roads. When home and business owners fail to do this, someone who slips and falls on their property may be able to hold them liable for any injuries. Young kids and older adults are at a particularly high risk of having a slip-and-fall accident.
Here are some key takeaways regarding staying safe around snow and ice.
Salt the area first
Salt helps to hinder the accumulation of snow and ice on the pavement in the first place by lowering the freezing point of water. For this reason, people commonly use rock salt or a substance such as calcium chloride or magnesium chloride to prevent the formation of ice on the surface. The prevention of the slippery surface is especially important if property owners are not available to clear snow and ice, but there are still guests or customers who might come onto the property.
Clear snow regularly
If there is a lot of snow falling, salt will not do much to help prevent it from sticking. In these cases, it is important that home and business owners periodically clear snow from walkways and roadways, including parking lots. Owners should move the excess snow away from foot and vehicle traffic. If the property owners are unable to do this, they should hire someone reliable who can.
Winter weather can arrive unexpectedly, so it is important that property owners have a plan in place for the quick removal of snow and ice.
