South Dakota winters don’t stop construction, but they change the risks on every job. Ice, snow, short daylight hours, and extreme cold affect your crew, your equipment, and your vehicles. Knowing the risks, and having the right coverage in place, helps you keep working without putting the business on the line.
Slips, Falls, and Cold Weather Injuries
Icy ladders, scaffolding, and walkways are a leading cause of winter job site injuries. Cold also stiffens muscles and increases strain injuries, and long exposure can lead to frostbite or hypothermia. If a crew member is hurt, workers’ comp covers medical bills and lost wages. Details on our workers’ compensation page.
Slick Roads and Vehicle Accidents
Trucks, trailers, and service vans spend more time on icy roads and more time loaded with materials. Longer stopping distances raise the odds of a crash. A commercial auto policy protects your work vehicles and covers liability if your driver causes an accident. See our commercial auto insurance page for coverage built for work vehicles.
Equipment and Tool Theft or Damage
Short days and dark job sites make theft easier, and cold weather can damage equipment left outdoors. Generators, heaters, and power tools are common targets. Our contractor insurance page covers protection for tools and equipment that move between sites or get left overnight.
Storm Damage to Unfinished Work
Wind, heavy snow, and ice can damage a structure that’s partly built, and materials stored on site are exposed. Builders risk coverage can protect a project under construction. We explain how it works in our guide to builders risk insurance.
Water Damage From Frozen Pipes and Temporary Heat
Winter work often involves temporary heating, and a pipe that freezes before the building is sealed can cause serious water damage. Fires from space heaters are another concern. General liability helps when your work causes damage to someone else’s property. Check our general liability coverage page for details.
Delays and Lost Income
Storms can shut down a site for days. Delays can trigger contract penalties and eat into your margins. Talk with your agent about what your policy does and doesn’t cover when weather halts a project.
Serious Claims and Higher Limits
A bad winter accident can create a claim larger than your primary limits. A commercial umbrella policy adds a layer of protection on top of your general liability and auto coverage.
Winter Prep for Your Crew
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Keep walkways and ladder bases clear of ice and snow
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Provide cold weather gear and scheduled warm-up breaks
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Service vehicles and check tires before the first storm
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Secure tools and materials at the end of each day
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Review contracts for weather delay clauses
More From Our Blog
Vehicles take the biggest beating in winter, and our earlier post, Commercial Auto Insurance for Contractors, covers how to keep your fleet protected. Our Sioux Falls Insurance branch looks at similar winter risks for property owners in preparing Sioux Falls rental properties for winter. And our Roerig Insurance team explains how vehicle damage claims work in comprehensive vs collision coverage.
Get Winter Ready
The best time to review coverage is before the first storm. Our team can walk through your policies and make sure they match the way you work in the cold months.
Get a contractor insurance quote or browse our full insurance resource library.
