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Snow Removal Safety: Protecting Your Facilities Staff This Winter
Winter is coming, and with it, one of the highest-risk activities for your facilities and maintenance staff: snow removal. For ISCC member institutions, snow-related injuries represent a predictable and preventable source of workers compensation claims each winter season.
The Hidden Cost of Snow Removal Injuries
Snow shoveling causes thousands of injuries annually, with back strain being the most common workers compensation claim during winter months. The repetitive lifting, twisting motions, and prolonged exertion create perfect conditions for musculoskeletal injuries that can sideline your staff for weeks.
Massachusetts winters demand that your facilities team repeatedly clear sidewalks, entrances, parking areas, and pathways; often under time pressure before students and staff arrive. Using the wrong tools or techniques compounds the physical stress and injury risk.
The ROI on Ergonomic Tools
A single back injury claim can cost $30,000-$50,000 or more in direct costs, with additional expenses for replacement labor and experience modification rate impacts. A wheeled snow pusher costs $40-$140. Ergonomic shovels cost $30-$50. Professional-grade ice grips cost $20-$40 per pair.
The math is simple: Investing in proper equipment pays for itself by preventing a single injury.
Choosing the Right Tool for the Job
Not all snow removal tools are created equal, and using the wrong one increases injury risk substantially. Here’s your guide to selecting the right tool based on conditions:
Wheeled Snow Pusher: Your First Line of Defense
For large, flat areas with fresh snow, the wheeled snow pusher should be your go-to tool. This design allows staff to clear significant areas while standing upright, eliminating the repetitive bending and lifting that causes back injuries.
Best for:
- Parking lots and large paved areas
- Fresh, light to moderate snow accumulation
- Initial clearing before snow becomes packed
- Staff who need to cover extensive areas efficiently
Key advantage: Research shows that wheeled ergonomic designs significantly reduce muscle fatigue in the brachioradialis, deltoid, and back muscles compared to traditional shovels, allowing staff to work longer with less physical discomfort.
Traditional Shovel: When Lifting Is Necessary
You’ll still need traditional shovels for certain situations, but choose wisely.
Best for:
- Heavy, wet, or packed snow that must be lifted
- Steps, stairways, and elevated areas
- Tight spaces between buildings
- Breaking up ice before applying treatment
- Piling snow in designated areas
Critical upgrade: Consider ergonomic bent-shaft models, which reduce lower-back stress by 16.5% compared to straight-shaft designs. This relatively small investment can significantly reduce injury claims over the winter season.
The Hybrid Approach: Match Tool to Task
Train your staff to use a strategic approach:
- Start with the pusher for initial clearing of large flat areas
- Switch to ergonomic shovels for lifting, piling, and detail work
- Use the right tool for the location. Don’t try to push snow up stairs or lift with a pusher
Protecting and Preparing Employees: Winter Hazards
Educating and preparing employees is a crucial piece of a well-developed Snow Removal Program. ISCC provides detailed guidance on preventing injuries and ensuring safe snow removal practices in our Comprehensive Snow Shoveling Safety Guide. Please visit the linked article for essential tips on preparation, technique, and worker education.
Address the Footwear Factor
The most overlooked safety measure: Proper footwear with traction.
Slips and falls during snow removal create a double hazard. First, the initial fall injury and then, the risk of landing on the shovel or in the path of snow removal equipment. Icy surfaces make every step treacherous.
Creating Your Snow Removal Safety Program
Winter facility maintenance demands precision, preparation, and unwavering attention to safety protocols, especially in educational and cultural settings where protecting both infrastructure and human life is critically important. For a comprehensive guide please visit Ensuring Winter Safety: A Guide To Equipment Operations For Educational & Cultural Facilities.
Special Considerations for Independent Schools
Your campus presents unique snow removal challenges:
- Tight schedules before student and employee arrival
- Potential for parent and visitor traffic during clearing operations
These factors make tool selection and staff training even more critical. One injury to your head of facilities during a major storm creates operational chaos beyond just the workers compensation claim.
Don’t Forget Student Workers
If your institution uses student workers for snow removal, exercise extra caution:
- Limit students to light, fresh snow with pushers only
- Never assign students to heavy lifting or ice breaking
- Provide enhanced supervision and enforce frequent breaks
- Ensure proper traction footwear without exception
- Consider restricting student involvement to daylight hours only
ISCC Member Benefit: Discounted Traction Solutions
Through ISCC membership, our members have free access to discounted pricing on professional-grade ice traction devices.
FutureComp has partnered with WinterWalking and ShoesForCrews to provide members with substantial discounts on:
- IceGrips for existing footwear
- Slip-resistant boots and shoes designed for winter conditions
- Bulk pricing for outfitting your entire facilities team
These are professional traction solutions designed for workers who must navigate icy surfaces repeatedly throughout their shifts.
The Bottom Line
Snow removal injuries are predictable and preventable. By investing in ergonomic equipment, providing proper traction footwear, training your staff on technique, and enforcing safety protocols, you can significantly reduce winter workers compensation claims.
The combination of wheeled pushers for initial clearing and ergonomic shovels for detail work, along with proper footwear, creates a system that protects your staff while maintaining safe campus conditions throughout the winter.
Take advantage of your ISCC membership benefits to equip your team with professional-grade ice traction at discounted pricing. Your facilities staff—and your workers compensation experience mod—will thank you.
Need help developing a comprehensive winter safety program for your campus? Contact ISCC’s risk control team for a customized assessment and recommendations.
