When the Leaves Change, Risks Return: Fall’s Hidden Liabilities for Businesses and Projects
As summer turns to fall, your risk landscape shifts in ways that may not be obvious until it’s too late. From changing weather patterns to contract deadlines, certain exposures tend to resurface every year — and if you’re not prepared, they can quickly become costly.
Here are five risks to keep on your radar this season — and why it’s worth reviewing them now.
1. Weather Shifts You Weren’t Expecting
Fall weather can turn on a dime. Heavy rain, high winds, or an early frost can disrupt schedules, damage property, or create unsafe conditions.
Tip: Don’t wait until the first storm to check your defenses. A quick review now can uncover weaknesses — but knowing what to look for can be the difference between a near miss and a major loss.
2. Shorter Days, Higher Hazards
Diminished daylight affects visibility, safety, and security — especially for active job sites and public areas.
Tip: A lighting check is a start, but the real protection comes from addressing the higher-liability risks that appear after dark.
3. Shifts in Your Workforce
Seasonal staffing changes mean new faces and varying experience levels.
Tip: Training is key, but many companies overlook a critical insurance and compliance step that can prevent claims from being denied.
4. Year-End Deadlines Sneaking Up
Fall often marks the lead-up to contract renewals, policy expirations, and budget resets.
Tip: It’s not just about renewing on time — it’s about catching the clauses or coverage terms that could cost you well into next year.
5. Idle Projects, Active Risks
Work slows down in the fall, but that doesn’t mean risks disappear. Idle sites can still generate losses.
Tip: Securing the site is one part — knowing how your coverage responds to inactivity is the other.
Your Fall Risk Check-Up
Each of these areas has nuances that can only be spotted with an experienced eye — and in some cases, the exposure won’t be obvious until a claim arises.
If you’d like a targeted fall risk review — including contract, insurance, and operational recommendations specific to your projects or have any other risk or insurance related questions, please contact our Managing Principal, Albert Sica at asica@thealsgroup.com or at 732.395.4251
