How to Protect Your Business from Winter Storms

The winter weather can be a source of disruption for many Australian businesses due to issues caused by heavy rainfall, lightning and floods. As the experts in business insurance, we get a lot of calls over the winter months from business owners who’ve been impacted by storm damage. Being prepared for storms means that you can recover more quickly or avoid damage altogether. Today, we’re looking at some steps you can take to protect your business from storms this winter.

Get regular maintenance

Regular maintenance can help you to identify possible risks and address them before they become a bigger issues during a storm. Overhanging tree branches, loose roof tiles or guttering, or loose fencing can all increase the risk of more serious damage during a storm. Organise a regular maintenance schedule to take care of potential issues.

Secure your assets

If a storm is approaching, think about how you’re going to secure your business assets. Do your business vehicles need to be relocated to a secure garage? Is it better to take some equipment offsite? Have your backed up your company data? Have you secured important documents, such as insurance and financial information? Taking these steps ahead of time can mean less risk of disruption to your business.

Ensure you have enough stock

One of the issues that can impact on businesses following a winter storm is that they don’t have enough stock to supply customers due to issues such as equipment failure or suppliers being affected by the weather. If a major weather event is headed your way, make sure you have enough stock on hand so your business can continue to run.

Have an emergency plan

Having an emergency plan in place is a good idea to ensure everyone knows what to do in the event of severe weather impacting on your business. This is particularly important in flood prone areas or if your business is in a remote area. Prepare a plan which outlines emergency instructions, contact details and safety procedures and make sure you familiarise all staff with this plan.

Have the right insurance cover

Although as a business owner you hope that you’ll never be affected by storm damage, you can’t control nature and there may be times when even your best preparations aren’t enough. To ensure that you’re protected financially, speak to your broker about getting the right insurance cover in place. Contents insurance, business interruption insurance and equipment breakdown insurance can all help you get back on your feet as soon as possible.

For more specific information about storm preparation in your local area, consult your state emergency service.

If you’re looking for business insurance brokers, GSK Insurance Brokers can help. We’re one of Australia’s leading brokers with a loyal customer base which stretches across the country. Our brokers will take the time to analyse the potential risks facing your business and find clever insurance solutions so you have the right level of cover. Let us help protect your success.

For business insurance brokers Perth, contact GSK Insurance Brokers today on (08) 9478 1933.

July 8, 2019

By Graham Knight

Founder and Managing Director of GSK Insurance (established in 1981). Graham draws upon more than 50 years’ experience in the insurance industry, working in both insurance and broking across various private, public and government sectors in Australia.