We at Snow Management Services(SMS) know that the work of a hospital never stops just because of a snow storm. If you manage a hospital building or property you probably know snow can become a risky issue during the winter time, affecting many areas of a hospital’s operation and raising liability concerns in the event of an injury.
Luckily, snow removal for any hospital is much like any large corporate office building, with a few added areas of concern. All walkways, sidewalks, and any outdoor courtyards should be quickly shoveled and de-iced to prepare for foot traffic. Extra attention should be paid to patient pick up/drop off areas and emergency services to prevent injury and ensure emergency medical responders can do their jobs. Let’s take a look at some of the main areas you should be paying attention to when it comes to keeping your hospital property clear of snow this winter.
Roadways, Parking Lots, and Parking Structures
Taking care of snow in these areas should be a no-brainer, keeping access to your building safe for incoming traffic and emergency vehicles is crucial to protecting the safety of patients and medical staff alike. Denver City or county plows may take care of the main roads leading up to your property, but generally will not plow any roads located on private property, therefore the duty of plowing may fall onto you.
Parking lots and structures should be clear enough to see marked parking spots and aisles to ensure maximum parking numbers can be maintained, and while the lower levels of a parking structure may not need much plowing, water running off from melting snow can quickly freeze into an icy mess, as temperatures within these structures are often lower than the outside temperature. The top levels of all parking structures should be plowed with extra care and double checked for ice.
Patient Drop Off and Pick Up Areas
Whether you’ve got a roofed loop out front or a curbside pull-off, extra attention should be given to properly clear snow and mitigate ice buildup in and around patient loading areas. All walkways leading from these areas should be shoveled and salted properly to ensure safe access to the building.
Ambulance and Emergency Services Unloading
When lives are at stake, the last thing you’d want is for a doctor or other emergency staff to go out of commission due to a slip or fall on ice. Ambulance bays or docks with doors should remain closed when possible to prevent snow and ice accumulation in the first place, and should be monitored carefully for buildup throughout the storm. Outdoor ambulance receiving areas need to be plowed and maintained to ensure quick and safe access to the building.
The sheer size of hospital properties can make managing snowfall a huge undertaking for anyone. You may even have multiple buildings and parking lots or structures on your property, multiplying the task even further. At SMS Denver our trained and certified teams have been helping business owners and large property managers combat the winter and properly manage snow removal for 25 years. We’ll take the time to thoroughly inspect your property with you to tailor your service to your property’s specific needs. Our team constantly monitors the weather during the winter and are on call 24 hours a day, ready to respond to a storm the moment it hits, not after. Please, contact us online or call us at (303) 750-8867 today to see how our services can help you protect the health and safety of your patients and staff and manage all your hospital’s winter needs.