Are You Ready?

ARE YOU READY? Training may be the most important component to pre-winter planning. by John Allin. October 22nd, 2009. Snow Magazine. Training ? Winter is here in some parts of the country. And, it’s certainly coming upon the rest of the country. It’s just a matter of time now. So – are you ready? More importantly – is your field staff ready? Sure, you’ve gone over the equipment. Hung the plows and made sure the controls work. Maybe you have even changed the fluids in the plows. Ok – the salt spreaders work. Skid steers have had their oil changed. Trucks are prepped and ready. What about the field staff? Plow drivers. Salt truck operators. Sidewalk crews. Have they been reacquainted with their equipment and how to operate it? I’m always amazed to find out that landscape contractors put their mowing crews through at least one day training each season prior to sending them out to mow grass with a 42-inch walk-behind mower – but will fill up a pickup truck with 3 tons of salt, hang a thousand pounds of steel off the front end, and then send this overloaded vehicle out into the night of the first snowstorm with an operator who’s “training” consists of “don’t hit the curb at the end of the run." This is the same snow “contractor” who will send a sidewalk crew out into the storm with “shovels," and no training on how to save their backs by not actually picking up snow off the walk (instead of pushing it to the side). Salt truck operators put into the field having no idea how to adjust the discharge door to the hopper. They are told to “lay it down heavy” with no concept of how much product it really does take to adequately reduce the ice or snow to water. This lack of attention to this type of detail can lead to some dire consequences. Accidents do not just happen. They are caused, and they are always caused by something. Lack of experience and training are two of the most prevalent issues that cause accidents to happen. Think about it. Injuries on sidewalk crews often result from poor execution of standard safety protocols. Accidents in plow trucks are generally caused by lack of experience. Salt truck operators are often unfamiliar with the size and type of vehicle they are driving (whether large or small trucks). So – I would caution all snow professionals with this statement: Remember the basics, and train your field staff in the safety issues that can arise from lack of experience or lack of practical knowledge. You will be a better company for it, and your insurance carrier will thank you, too.