Remove Snow, Safely!
Julie Cascio, University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service
This winter, heavy snowfalls arrived, then strong winds moved it around and created concrete-like surfaces! Moving the heavy snow helped me build up muscles. (Luckily, my strong husband moved most of it.) Here are some tips to remove the snow from your driveway.
Shovels that are flat and wide work for moving light snow out of the way. ThisOldHouse.com recommends steel and aluminum blades are lightweight, but strong and sharp, so easily scrape packed-on snow or ice. However, they can scratch wooden or stone surfaces. Standard shovels with a plastic blade and a handle made of wood, plastic or metal are used to lift snow and toss it out of the way. It may be a better option for wood or stone surfaces.
To shovel the snow safely, National Safety Council, nsc.org, recommends to
Stretch out before you begin.
Shovel slowly. Do not shovel after eating or while smoking.
Push the snow rather than lifting it.
If lifting, use a small shovel or only partially fill the shovel.
Lift with your legs, not your back.
Stop before the point of exhaustion!
Know the signs of a heart attack. Stop immediately and call 911 if experience any of them. Every minute counts!!
“Bend your knees and lift with your legs. Grip near the shovel blade to keep it close to you when lifting the snow to reduce strain on your back. Work different muscles by switching between a right-handed and left-handed stance. The scoop doesn't need to be full, even if you have a high-capacity shovel blade.” states HomeDepot.com.
Plan to dress for winter weather; avoid loose hanging clothes such as scarves, jewelry or baggy pants and jackets. These can be in the way when shoveling and get stuck in the rotating parts of snow machine.
Wear safety glasses, gloves and footwear that can handle cold and slippery surfaces. If snow blower is loud, wear ear plugs to protect your hearing.
Plan where to pile the snow on your property. Be respectful of your neighbors when shoveling snow, and don’t pile snow on their property. Don’t throw snow into the street, either — it creates a driving hazard. When plows come through it will be pushed back in front of driveways and cars parked on the street.
Check the snow blower and other equipment you use. Review your owner’s manual for safe handling procedures. If it cannot be found, look it up online.
Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, www.opei.org, recommends to:
Check your equipment. The snow thrower should be completely powered off when you are checking it over. Adjust any cables. Check the auger.
Put your equipment where you can get to it easily.
Fill up the fuel tank outside before you start the engine and while the engine is cold. Never add fuel to a running or hot engine.
Store your fuel safely and out of the reach of children. Place fuel in a fuel container and label it with the date purchased and the ethanol content of the fuel. Fuel that is more than 30 days old can cause operating problems.
Tidy the area you plan to clear with your equipment. Snow can sometimes hide objects. Doormats, balls, toys, wires, and other debris should be removed from the areas you intend to clear. When run over by a snow thrower, these objects may harm the machine or people.
OPERATE YOUR EQUIPMENT SAFELY
Never put your hands inside the auger or chute. Use a clean out tool (or stick) to unclog snow or debris from your snow thrower.
Turn OFF your snow thrower if you need to remove debris or unclog snow. Wait for all moving parts to come to a complete stop before clearing any clogs or debris.
Only use your snow thrower with good visibility or light. Operating the machine in the dark or when it is raining/snowing can lead to risks such as slippery conditions, clogging of the machine, or reduced visibility of oncoming objects.
Aim your snow blower with care, AWAY from people or cars. Do not allow anyone to stand in front of your snow blower. Keep children or pets away from your snow thrower when it is operating; preferably they are inside your house.
Use extreme caution on slopes and hills and when changing directions on slopes. Do not attempt to clear steep slopes.
Know where your cord is. If you have an electric powered snow thrower, be aware of where the power cord is at all times. Avoid tripping. Do not run over the power cord.
To reduce slipping on icy surfaces are spread sand across it or deice. Instead of sandbox sand spread out kitty litter, saw dust or wood ash (without any nails in it). The most used deicing option is rock salt. While generally the least expensive deicing product, sodium chloride doesn’t work well in temperatures below 15 degrees. It can leach into the soil, damaging lawn, eroding concrete, and cause animals to get sick.
Another deicer is calcium chloride. It works well at temperatures below zero and is considered less harmful to vegetation. However, it can leave behind a slippery residue that can be harmful to carpet, tile, shoes and your pet’s feet. This product can be more expensive than rock salt, but you don’t need to use as much.
A salt-free deicer is calcium magnesium acetate. It is biodegradable so won’t harm the environment and is less corrosive to concrete than salt.
For other ways to handle Alaska winter check out https://dot.alaska.gov/winter-conditions.shtml
