Snow Shoveling and Removal

Snow shoveling takes a lot of energy and requires a few safety tips to be done safely. Wear winter clothing such as a winter coat, scarves, gloves, hats, and boots when you are about to go out to shovel snow. Wear your pants hems over your boots. Your gloves should be worn under your sleeves to keep the snow and cold out. Two or more layers of clothing will allow you to move with relative ease. Wearing cover-alls or a whole body winter suit will provide adequate warmth and movement. A good one piece winter piece will only require you to wear one or two pieces of clothing underneath it. Drink a hot liquid (non-caffeinated or drinks that are not stimulants) before going outside and have some of the same hot drinks waiting after you are finished. Do not shovel snow if you have heart troubles. Do not shovel snow on an empty stomach. If you have to lift snow only lift up to two inches at a time and lift with your knees bent and your back straight. Do not twist when shoveling snow so as to avoid unduly injuring yourself.

Buy and use ice melts such as calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, or phosphorus chloride which causes little or no damage to plants. Spread ice melt over outside ways just before snowfall or right after shoveling. Do not use rock salt (sodium chloride) when there is a danger of getting some of it on nearby plants, including trees. Buy, and spray a liquid deicer over residential walkways and driveways before the expected time of the snowfall or when snow begins to fall. Buy a sturdy plastic or steel snow shovel that is sharp on the end or that has a sharp blade on its end. Oil a shovel before shoveling snow to help prevent the snow from clinging to shovels. Push snow whenever possible and avoid picking it up by a shovel full of snow. Push or pile snow onto snow covered lawns and along the sides of regularly used walkways. Shovel snow at an even and moderate pace while you avoid overextending yourself. Remove thick snow by two inch layers at a time. Remove snow whenever it accumulates to two to three inches thick and before it reaches four inches. Take breaks when shoveling requires an extended shoveling period that will put a strain on your body. Avoid over exerting yourself. Only resume shoveling when you are completely warm and relatively relaxed.

Buy a snow thrower that is just right for the particular job for which it will be used, do not buy a snow thrower that is too large or powerful. A snow thrower is needed when shoveling would be too taxing on your body or the surface from which snow is to be removed is too broad, long or thick. Areas that are too deep, long, or wide, even for a snow thrower will need to be plowed. Fix a snow plow to the front of a truck or an ATV to remove snow from broad and long areas. Buy or spray the snow plow with rust-proofing paint to keep it from rusting. Spray the plow with a slippery or silicone solution to prevent snow from sticking to the plow. Snow plows should never rest low enough to scrape the underlying surface; they should be one and a half or more inches above any surface depending on the contour of the ground surface. When plowing snow near automobiles or structures that could get damaged by the plow keep a safe distance of at least one half to two feet away. Vehicles with plows on them may need to be registered for plow use by your city or town. Make sure that the vehicle used to plow snow has the appropriate safety equipment, including lights so that motorists and pedestrians will easily see the vehicle. Always drive with caution when driving forward or backwards. Following these tips should make your snow shoveling experience one a safe one.