Snow Removal Operators Need Sufficient Liability Insurance

There are many parts of Canada known for their harsh winters, but some can expect the next few months to be particularly trying in this regard.

There are many parts of Canada known for their harsh winters, but some can expect the next few months to be particularly trying in this regard. That, in turn, can often be a boon to those in the business of removing snow that may come down many inches at a time. However, this is also a good reason for those in the snow removal industry to make sure they have sufficient insurance coverage to ensure they’re properly protected when or if things go wrong.

One recent incident that highlights the need for these companies to continually evaluate their insurance needs and make sure their policies are up to date whenever possible took place in the Notre-Dame-de-Grace neighborhood of Montreal, according to a report from the CBC. Alberto Mennillo, a snow removal truck operator and landscaper, was using the vehicle as normal with a co-worker when it started to smoke ominously before catching fire. There had previously been nothing that would indicate the truck was under duress in any way.

“My dad called me today to ask if I had booster cables, and he goes, ‘Oh and by the way, my truck exploded,'” Lucio Mennillo, the son of the truck’s driver, told the news organization. “It burned for about 15 to 20 minutes, then it started to explode. When he saw me today, he started to cry, and my dad doesn’t cry.”

Snow removal is often necessary in Canada, but so too is having the right insurance.

What happens next?

For Mennillo, the loss of the truck leads to a lot of uncertainty about the future of his snow removal company, the report said. Without the ability to actually go out and remove snow from the driveways and parking lots of long-time clients, he’s just going to lose out on that business as those customers will have to turn to his competitors when more snow falls.

Fortunately, though, no one was hurt in the fire or explosion, the report said. However, it did require a visit from the fire department to deal with properly, as witnesses say there was “a massive amount of flaming everywhere.”

What’s the lesson?

This should serve as a warning to snow removal companies that do not make a habit of routinely checking up on their insurance coverage to see how their needs might have changed. This might be especially true of those who rely upon older equipment to do the jobs for which they are hired, because of the risk inherent to operating these types of machines versus newer models.

The point is that having a comprehensive insurance plan and checking in on it regularly is the best way to ensure that a company is as protected as possible and will be able to continue operating even if unforeseeable problems such as these happen to arise every once in a while. In that way, having the right kind – and right amount – of insurance coverage is crucial to maintaining a strong and healthy business.

Information about APRIL Canada:

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