Winter slip-and-fall claims are one of the most common forms of liability exposure for any business open to the public in London, and understanding how this risk actually works helps property owners take the right precautions rather than just hoping for the best each season.
Ontario's Occupiers' Liability Act generally requires property owners and operators to take reasonable steps to keep their premises safe for anyone who has a legal right to be there, including customers, delivery drivers, and employees. In winter, this means addressing snow and ice accumulation within a reasonable timeframe, not necessarily instantly, but promptly enough that a hazard isn't left unaddressed for an unreasonable period.
Documentation becomes your strongest protection if a claim ever arises. Keeping records of your snow removal schedule, service visit logs, and any communication with your provider creates evidence that you took reasonable steps to maintain safe conditions, which matters enormously if a slip-and-fall claim ever goes to court or insurance review.
High-risk areas deserve extra attention beyond just the parking lot surface. Entrances, walkways, and any transition points between surfaces, like where pavement meets a curb or a ramp, are common fall locations that require consistent monitoring and treatment throughout a storm, not just a single clearing pass.
What Reasonable Care Looks Like in Practice
Reasonable care is not about guaranteeing that nobody ever slips. It is about showing that you took sensible, consistent steps to manage snow and ice for the conditions you were facing. For most businesses that means a clear plan for when clearing happens, a plan for ice between snowfalls, and a way to show both were followed.
A written service arrangement with a contractor, a defined trigger depth for plowing, and a salting plan for freezing rain and refreeze are the building blocks. Inside the building, mats at entrances and a staff routine for checking walkways at opening time close the gaps that a contractor cannot cover.
Why Records Matter So Much
When a claim arrives weeks or months after a fall, memories are vague and weather details are hard to reconstruct. Dated, specific records are what carry weight. Our crews take timestamped photos at each visit, which gives you a simple, independent record of when the lot and walkways were serviced and what they looked like afterward.
Keep those records alongside your own notes: when staff salted an entrance, when a customer reported an icy patch, and what was done about it. Together they show a pattern of attention rather than a single moment.
Contractor Insurance Is Part of the Picture
Before you hire anyone to clear a commercial property, ask for proof of liability insurance and workplace coverage. Thames Valley Snow carries $2,000,000 in liability insurance and WSIB coverage, and we provide a certificate of insurance on request. We are also members of the London Property Management Association. Commercial sites are priced per site after we review the property, and quotes come back within two business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does hiring a contractor remove my liability completely?
No. Responsibility for the premises usually stays with the owner or occupier, but a qualified, insured contractor and good records help show you took reasonable care. For your specific situation, speak with a lawyer or your insurer.
What should I keep after a winter incident?
Keep the date and time, photos of the area, any weather notes, your contractor’s visit records and photos, and notes on what staff did. Store them together so they are easy to find later.
Want a fixed price for your property? Request a free quote or call or text (548) 888-8702. See snow removal prices and residential snow removal for details.
What's included… and what's extra
Commercial snow service is priced per site from paved area, walkway length and opening time. A typical contract includes plowing at the agreed trigger depth, clearing before opening, hand-cleared entrances, sidewalks and ramps, and a timestamped photo log of every visit.
Common extras are quoted separately so you only pay for what the site needs: salting and de-icing per event, extra sidewalk or ramp coverage, after-hours or priority service, and snow relocation when piles run out of room. See commercial snow removal or request a site quote by calling or texting (548) 888-8702.
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