Since it's difficult to accurately predict snowstorms, grounds care managers need to have a snow removal plan in place in order to keep their facilities and campuses accessible even during the most inclement weather conditions. And for many grounds care managers, an effective plan entails preparation, the correct equipment and the help of technology. In particular, many have found the following eight tips handy for clearing paths during onslaughts of snow:

1) Build a versatile arsenal of equipment. Lowell Neuhaus, landscape manager at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, recommends rounding up equipment that can handle anything from light snowfalls to blizzards. "You have to be prepared for anything," says Neuhaus. "In my experience, there have never been two snowstorms that were exactly the same." To handle a wide range of possibilities, Neuhaus' crew uses seven tractors, which can be outfitted with brooms, blades, or blowers. While the brooms are for more subdued snowfalls, the blades and blowers are put to work during major snowstorms. In addition, the crew relies on a skid steer, two pick-up trucks, topdressers for dispersing a sand-salt mixture, and a dozen snowblowers, 10 of which are small enough to clear large steps.

2) Make sure your equipment is on hand and ready to go. Mitchell Hintze, grounds maintenance lead for the six campuses of St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Idaho, executes his snow removal plan as soon as a snowstorm strikes. "If a flake hits the ground, we are there," he says. "A hospital environment is one that has to be kept as safe as possible." Thus, he makes certain that equipment is on hand to allow for quick response. For example, his crews have immediate access to shovels and can start clearing stairs, ramps and other pedestrian areas where tractors and plows can't run.

3) Don't be discouraged by lack of progress. Steve Stevenson, grounds supervisor for the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, reiterates the importance of starting on snow removal right away—at the onset of a storm. "If it's snowing so hard that all you can do is keep paths and steps open, at least you are providing an egress and showing a concern for public safety," he says. The most serious misstep managers make in snowstorm-prone cities such as Denver, observes Stevenson, is heading home and then being unable to return to work because of the heavy snow buildup. Instead, he urges managers to retain as many people on site as they can during a snowstorm.

4) Prepare months in advance. Crews sometimes have to remove snow for 48 consecutive hours or more, making equipment preparation and maintenance a must. "We take about three days in early October and mount all the plows, change hydraulic fluids, filters and such, and get everything ready," says Hintze. Operators place all machinery in covered or sheltered areas, and they clean and dry equipment such as spreaders each time they use ice-melting chemicals. Moreover, Hintze checks that he has fully charged spare batteries for his cell phone so he can stay on top of any events or changes. Stevenson, meanwhile, is also a stickler for early preparation, making sure that equipment gets pressure washed when it's still warm outside. "All through the snow season and the off season, we are starting things up, checking fluid levels, and so on," he says.

5) Plan your routes carefully. Hintze believes that devoting a lot of time to plotting out routes for snow removal is important. And he doesn't just prioritize the most heavily trodden areas, but ensures that snow removal is performed discretely because the hospital's campuses are situated in residential areas. For example, he avoids having large machinery run at hours that will disturb neighbors. "There are people everywhere at all times here, and we can have a tough job and are on stage at the same time, with people literally all around us," he says. "We have to do the job so they can be safe, while at the same time keeping them safe from accidents."

6) Don't try to predict. React quickly instead. Experience has taught Neuhaus that attempting to predict a snowstorm's arrival is an exercise in futility. Thus, calling additional people in before the onset of heavy snowfall is pointless. "I've tried to anticipate a snowstorm start, but the problem you have is that if (weather forecasters) are wrong, you're wasting labor," he says. "Now I just talk it up—make sure everyone knows snow's coming—and then call people in as I need them." He is most concerned about not letting workers go on duty for exceedingly long stretches of time and thus causing them to be fatigued.

7) Use ice melters as a preventive measure against ice. Both Hintze and Stevenson rely on deicers to deter ice from forming on the pavement and endangering pedestrians. Nearly all deicers on the market are made up of five chemicals—calcium chloride, sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride and urea. "Putting down magnesium chloride before a storm is helpful, especially when you have freezing drizzle before it starts snowing," says Stevenson. "Instead of having a layer of ice under the snow, it's just wet. Snow brushes get down to the pavement and eliminate the layer of ice or slush left by the plows."

8) Allow ample time for efforts to take effect. Neuhaus urges managers to plot out each crew member's route for clearing snow so that they don't inadvertently undo another person's efforts. "Sometimes, the next person comes across the area and sweeps off the chemical, which needs time to work," he says. "It's necessary to let the chemical do some of the work, or your guys are working that much harder. You really need to plan."

Sources:

A Clear Path to Snow Removal
Chris Johnson
Maintenance Solutions, Sept. 2003
www.facilitiesnet.com/ms/Sep03/sep03groundscareB.shtml

Using Deicers Correctly
Kyle Howard
Building Services Management, Sept. 2003
www.buildingservicesmgt.com/articles/2003/09/deicers.html

Good to 85 Below
Facility Safety Management, Oct. 2003
www.fsmmag.com/Articles/2003/10/deicer.htm