Protecting property in the face of winter's icy blasts always has been challenging, but the recession may make doing so even more challenging, say some loss-control experts.

Risk managers may be asked to do more with less, and the nature of the recession could cause some financial institutions and others facing loss-control challenges of which they were not aware.

Yet the perils remain the same in good times and bad. In addition to common-sense steps such as icing sidewalks and warning of falling ice, roofs must be cleared of snow, boilers and pipes have to be protected, and vehicle fleets and drivers must be prepared for wintry conditions.

“In a downturn, people have less resources, so the planning aspect of a winter program becomes critical, as well as prioritizing what needs to be done and what actions you need to take because it helps you get better use of your resources,” said Helene Browning, director-general liability line of business at Zurich Services Corp. in Schaumburg, Ill. “It's a 360-degree approach. I think you need to look at this from a building aspect, a people aspect and a driving aspect.”

Clients are finding themselves responsible for performing loss-prevention tasks with reduced workforces, said Jeff Beauman, vp and all-risk underwriting manager for Johnston, R.I.-based Factory Mutual Insurance Co., which does business as FM Global.

He noted that previous plans might have been written for a certain level of staffing that since has been cut, and that situation can be exacerbated by the possibility that employees might be out of work because of illness. As a result, lists of personnel assigned to winter maintenance tasks should be reviewed and may need to be adjusted, Mr. Beauman said.

Companies may also want to have contractors lined up in advance to perform tasks like removing snow from roofs, he said.

The nature of winter peril, of course, varies from region to region.

In the South, where prolonged freezes are rare, steps need to be taken to protect outside equipment and processes in case a cold snap lingers, Mr. Beauman said. For example, heat tape should be wrapped around piping and critical instrumentation, he said. Outside sensors need to be protected as well.

In the North, snow loading can be an issue, he said. Loss-control officials need to have maintenance workers regularly visit roofs to make sure they're clear.

While the recession hasn't been an issue for Pennsylvania State University's winter property protection program, the university is prepared to deal with snow loading, said Gary W. Langsdale, risk officer for Penn State in State College, Pa. The recession has encouraged people without jobs to enroll, and “that means we don't have any empty buildings.”

He said because of the school's location, buildings are constructed to withstand cold. “The biggest issue gets to be snow loading on the roof,” he said. “It's just a matter of keeping an eye on the roofs,” he said. Mr. Langsdale said there are maintenance people in each building every day who are reminded by their supervisors to keep an eye on roofs and to do things such as making sure drains remain unplugged.

The recession also has meant there a “lot of new players involved in the ownership and operations of buildings,” said George Dale, managing director of Aon Risk Services' Construction Services Group in Los Angeles. Banks and other holders of foreclosed properties find themselves in the new position of having to maintain buildings, he said. “It has a very significant impact on how projects are being protected.”

“From a macro perspective, there's a huge amount of transition when you've got a bunch of folks who are not used to being operators and absolutely we are being called upon to bridge that gap,” he said. “They have to make sure both from a winterization as well as a security issue that their collateral is there.”

Boilers deserve special attention, said Rick Grobart, technical services supervisor-risk control consulting services for Gallagher Bassett Services Inc. in Itasca, Ill.

“Make sure the boiler systems are adequate and have undergone routine maintenance,” he said. Doing so is a year-round process, he said.

Boilers should be inspected weekly by checking the boiler room for cleanliness, removing unnecessary combustibles, and assuring there's at least a 36-inch clearance between the boiler and anything combustible. Those responsible for loss control also need to check for water leaks and any unusual odors. In addition, they will want to observe proper firing of the boiler if possible and make sure pressure and temperature are within the allowable limits for the system set by the manufacturers. The oil storage tank needs to be checked and delivery scheduled, if necessary.

Monthly maintenance should include testing the boiler's low-water cutoff and manually testing the safety relief valve, said Mr. Grobart. Annually, staff should test all safety and pressure relief valves, test all combustion safety controls, clean fire sides in the flue, take apart and clean the low-water cutoff, evaluate combustion burner efficiency, and check steam traps, he said.

Sometimes, maintenance that had been outsourced might be brought in-house as a cost-saving step, said Mr. Grobart. But the process should undergo an adequate analysis to assure that switch from vendor to in-house personnel is seamless.

“Cutting corners when it comes to something like boiler maintenance could result in a catastrophic loss,” he said.

Winter also presents loss-control issues for corporate fleets, said Zurich's Ms. Browning. Driving should be an ongoing training issue for all employees, she said. Vehicles should be in good condition and employees should keep at least a half a tank of fuel in the vehicle. They also should have basic emergency supplies such as flashlights and cell phones that work.

Preparation is a constant effort, said Regina McMichael, head of customer education and engagement for Zurich in Clemson, S.C.

Companies with a large fleet probably are more likely to think about winter risk, but businesses with only handful of vehicles might need an extra reminder.

Don't get snowed in

Steps to mitigate the risk of roof collapse in winter.