Snow Removal: What parameters do you use to call in the troops.

I've been assigned to organize and update our snow removal and I am looking for some guidelines that others use.

Scott

Hi Scott — Check out his podcast on snow removal. www.facilitiesnet.com/.../Developing-a-Plan-for-Snow-and-Ice-Removal-with-Tim-Holysz--20742

Helena School District #1 Maintenance Department Snow Removal Procedures

Safety of the staff, students and parents are the primary objectives of this maintenance activity. Removal of snow and ice from the sidewalks and parking lots is a priority operation of the maintenance crew, and takes precedence over other work until the specified Levels of Service are reached.

The following narrative has been prepared to serve as a basic guide which explains and identifies the Helena School District Maintenance Department’s snow removal and ice mitigation procedures. Conditions may be so unusual or unexpected that a departure from these general policies may be authorized or required. Each snow and winter weather event is unique in some respect; be it time of day or week, intensity and duration.  The maintenance department tries to adapt and hopes that each site will work with us to mitigate unsafe or inconvenient situations.  Each year, this procedure will be reviewed and updated to ensure the snow removal service expectations are met.

Snow/Ice creates numerous problems and inconveniences for the staff, students and parents. This outline has identified and categorized snowplowing and ice control operations currently used. Building administrators and school based staff have certain responsibilities to assist in these efforts.

• Identify any particularly dangerous areas which require extra care and that should be avoided by students e.g. steps, slopes, gullies.  The principal or building administrator has the authority to direct the efforts of the day custodian or appropriate building staff to take necessary precautions to eliminate or reduce unsafe conditions associated with winter hazards.   As safety is paramount, this may require a shift from the normal routine to take care of the immediate need.
• When the building administrator has concerns over the safe use of certain external pathways, parking areas, loading zones, circulation routes, playgrounds etc.; it may be appropriate for affected areas to be taken out of use.  If this is the case, these areas should be marked clearly using signs, cones, fencing or caution tape to ensure everyone is made aware.  The maintenance department and custodial staff can assist in placing barricades around immediate hazards until they can be mitigated.  Alternate emergency egress routes may be required to avoid sending building occupants from one hazard into another.   This may require a departure from the normal routine; however safety takes precedence over convenience and may require flexibility from everyone.
• The building administrator may determine that hazardous areas on playgrounds may need to be declared off limits and avoided; and supervision levels may need to be increased.  This may require a shift from the normal schedule or routine until such a time as the building administrator deems the area safe to occupy and/or the hazard has been mitigated.  The maintenance department will strive to provide as much hard surface and walking trail ice remediation as practical once higher priority areas have been cleared. Turf and landscaped areas will not be sanded or salted, and typically will not be plowed.

• All staff should be aware of the risk assessment in place for snow and ice and take responsibility for following the designated paths and access routes when such conditions exist.  Not all building entries or access points may be immediately useable depending on the type and nature of the winter event.

SNOW PLOWING and ICE MITIGATION:

Snow Plowing Start-Up and Priorities

The district properties include over 60 acres of hard surfaces that consist of parking lots, sidewalks and play areas located at 19 individual sites.  Priorities and schedules have been established based on safety, efficiency, available human and mechanical resources, outsourced services and economic limitations.

Plowing of snow will begin with an accumulation of two-inches (2”) of snow on the sidewalks and parking lots.

• Priority 1 areas, plowing of the primary sidewalks, entrance ways, stairs and access to and from parking lots along with bus and driving lanes.
• Priority 2 areas, parking lots, handicap parking areas, secondary sidewalks and accesses to the buildings along with snow cleared from the vicinity of fire hydrants and fire protection controls.
• Priority 3 areas, plowing/sanding of hard surfaces on playgrounds

Snow removal will be done primarily during the shift hours from 3:00am to 8:00am. However, additional plowing/sanding may be done outside of snow events to clear snow accumulations resulting from snow thrown onto sidewalks or bus drop-off pick-up areas by vehicle traffic or City operated snow equipment.  All snow accumulations will be plowed to the edge of the street, parking lot perimeters or to the curb as space allows. A special effort will be made to make remaining routes more usable by pedestrians as soon as time permits after the Priority Routes are completed.

The City, State and County clear established snow and emergency routes first, then secondary streets.  Many of the district sites use on street parking for loading zones, staff and visitor parking.   These streets typically are not part of the priority removal areas; therefore the district is using the site well before the plowing occurs.  The district will attempt to work in concert with the other public entities to coordinate efforts and to avoid redundant or conflicting snow and ice removal efforts. 

Additional work will consist of:

a. Removing snow and slush from the sidewalks and applying sand/snow melt.

b. Pushing the snow further to the sides with additional sanding

Sidewalks

Every effort will be made to maintain all sidewalks for safe pedestrian foot traffic. Conditions will be monitored to assure icy or slippery areas are treated. Generally, only an ice melter product will be used on sidewalks. In extremely icy conditions a sand/salt product may be used sparingly. During regular staff hours custodial staff will be responsible for snow/ice control at each entryway to our buildings. It is their responsibility to maintain the walkways out to where the grounds vehicles perform snow and ice maintenance.

The routes used by students outside of school district property boundaries are the reasonability of the City and private home owners.

Snow Berm Removal

In the event City plowed snow accidentally or substantially covers a sidewalk, the School District Maintenance Department will return within 24 hours after notification to clear the snow off. District snow plowing crews will respond to requests for berm removal at handicapped signed  and student drop-off pick-up locations after all priority routes have been completed along with school bus loading areas at the request of school principals as needed, after priority routes are completed.

Snow Plowing Speeds

The operating speed of plow equipment is directly related to efficiency and effectiveness. Operators will maintain a speed that provides a safe, reasonably prompt service. Excessive plowing speeds can result in damage to the parking lots and sidewalks, damage to the plow and poor performance.

In an attempt to prevent accidents, vehicle damage and liability for the Helena School District during snow plowing; the following procedures will be followed.

Plowing speed shall not exceed 25 mph and should be slower under most conditions. Under no circumstances will a plow operator cause snow, slush, rocks or any road debris to come into contact with any other vehicle(s), pedestrian(s), cyclist(s), or personal property. This includes parked vehicles as well as moving traffic. In those circumstances where other vehicle(s), pedestrian(s), cyclist(s) or personal property are in close proximity to a plow vehicle, the operator will slow down to prevent spraying of snow, slush, debris on the adjacent vehicle(s), pedestrian(s), cyclist(s) or personal property.

While operating school district equipment all operators will exercise care and good judgment at all times to avoid accidents and/or damage to equipment or other property under all circumstances, including those not specifically mentioned here.

Private Parking and Commercial Snow Plowing

Snow plowed from School District parking areas, sidewalks, or driveways by commercial contractors or the Maintenance Department shall not be placed or deposited on city streets or alleys or in any way impede safe movement of traffic.

Scott:

I've been involved with snow removal for 18 years, working for cities as well as responsible for various County facilities.  What type of information are you looking for specifically?  A single site, a campus, ???

Wayne Kohlrust