Even in areas where the chance of snow seems scarce, blizzards and ice storms can occur with little to no warning and wreak havoc on local businesses. Use the following resources to ready your practice for winter weather events, and avoid being caught unprepared.

Winter Risks for Veterinarians

From blizzard conditions and snow-packed roads to frigid temperatures and patches of black ice, winter creates risk for workers and employers alike. As a result, winter marks an uptick in workers’ compensation and general liability claims reviewed by the AVMA Trust program. Take extra precautions this winter to prevent your workers from being injured and get started on your winter preparations in advance.

Protecting Employees from Winter Conditions 

The health and safety of your employees should always be a top concern during winter months. Ensure vets, techs, and other clinic staff use proper footwear, clothing, and personal protective equipment (PPE) for whatever task they are performing, particularly outdoors ones. If employees are responsible for snow and ice removal, ensure they are properly trained and attired to reduce injuries from physical stress, repetitive motion, exposure to cold, or equipment hazards. Some snow removal efforts require the use of plow trucks, front loaders, snow blowers, or other mechanical equipment. Always ensure employees are properly trained before asking them to operate any equipment.

Winter Weather Loss Prevention

As the weather begins to turn cooler throughout the United States, veterinary clinics should prepare and plan for winter weather. Winter weather hazards can be responsible for property damage, injuries to employees, and damage to fleet operations. With these factors in mind, loss prevention is crucial to minimizing insurance claims.

Winter Slips, Trips, & Falls

If your employees walk to and from their cars in icy conditions or are constantly on the go for veterinary calls, an eventual slip, trip, or fall is highly likely.

• Many veterinary winter slips are the result of an employee being tugged or thrown off balance by a large animal patient. Before walking any large dogs, handling horses, or dealing with large production animals in icy settings, remind employees to proceed with extra caution.
• For steadier footing, be sure to coat sidewalks with animal-safe salt immediately after a storm to reduce unwanted accidents.
• Encourage your employees to walk slowly and take small steps to allow themselves to react quickly to a change in traction. It’s also recommended that you remind employees to wear proper footwear to navigate the snow and ice safely.

Winter Maintenance for Vehicles

Late fall is the perfect time to check your fleet vehicles and perform regular maintenance to ensure they're ready for winter. Prepare for impending cold temperatures by checking the engine, battery, tires, and other vehicle functions to ensure safer working conditions for employees. The following checklist contains everything you'll need to get your vehicles winter-ready and make certain your drivers remain safe. 

Advice from the US Department of Homeland Security

Winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks from overexertion. These storms can last for a few hours or as long as several days, and they put older adults, children, and pets at greater risk. Preparing well ahead of winter storms is essentially to wetahering them successfully. Read more.

Protect What Matters Most

Make sure you have the right insurance coverages and a crisis response plan in place.

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