Green Grounds: Snow and Ice Management
Part 1: Snow and Ice Management: Consider Safety and the Environment
Part 2: Conduct Preventive Maintenance and Fleet Inventories for Snow Removal
Part 3: Snow and Ice Removal: Trucks, Plows and Spreaders
Part 4: Snow and Ice Removal: Deicing vs. Anti-icing
Part 5: Steps to Build Training Programs for Snow and Ice Removal
Snow and Ice Management: Consider Safety and the Environment
By Brian Birch and Ellen Kobach - November 2008
Managing snow and ice during harsh winter conditions is challenging work for grounds managers in institutional and commercial facilities. It involves long hours, logistical management, knowledge of the weather, and significant costs for equipment, materials, and manpower.
Managing snow and ice effectively means having the right personnel and equipment in place at the right time. While the challenges and necessary preparation can be intimidating, the rewards of having a comprehensive action plan in place far outweigh the time and money spent preparing for the worst conditions.
Snow and ice management is one of the most scrutinized activities for many grounds managers, largely due to the need for the safety of occupants and visitors. With safety in mind, managers constantly are revamping their snow and ice removal plans, focusing on new equipment options and evolving strategies to make managing snow and ice a smooth, safe process. More often, managers also have to consider growing sustainability concerns relating to the use of chemicals and the release of equipment emissions during snow and ice removal.
