Dealing with ice storms this season
Plowing snow is challenging enough, however generally once the white stuff falls and your equipment is in place, the process is pretty straightforward. You push the snow, you stack it, do some clean-up, and move on, right? Major ice storms and the coating of ice that they create, however, may be the most exhausting and challenging item you will face in this industry.
Here are some things to think about regarding ice storms:
- Differentiation: If you manage an ice storm better than your competitors, then you may be able to differentiate yourself in your market.
- Think pre-treat: If you have not delved into pre-treated with a liquid or a solid, you might find that pre-treating can be a huge advantage for ice. It may not completely solve the issue, and you’ll need to know your stuff in order to make it work, but you could potentially save a lot of time and heartache if you can stop ice from forming on key areas that you service.
- Customers and site patrons don’t care. They will not understand the logistical challenges of managing snow vs. ice; you will need to work hard, and be proactive, in managing their expectations and making sure that they understand the danger and severity these types of storms can present.
- Treat ice storms differently in contracts. If you can, make sure you include language about excessive ice/ice storms and conditions in the scope of work of your snow management contracts. These storms are a different animal and will likely take much more effort, product, and time to manage, so protecting yourself financially and legal makes sense.
- Safety is key. During these storms, conditions are extremely dangerous for anyone out there in the thick of things. Make sure that the safety of your customers, their patrons, and your employees/subs is paramount.
When that big ice storm is coming your way, mentally and operationally prepare your organization for the grinder, as it will not be fun. Keeping the items above in mind and keeping your focus can make the difference!
This tip was created by the Snow & Ice Management Association, Inc. and its website GoPlow.com and is made possible by Bobcat Company at http://www.bobcat.com/snow_removal/overview.
