Ensuring Safety of Your Employees
What can we do to ensure that employees are safe during plowing operations ?? Here’s a couple tips that will help. If you know it is going to snow, encourage your people to take a nap, or to go to bed early. That way they are well rested for the all night plowing that can come with wintertime snowfalls. If they have been plowing 8 or 10 hours, allow them to take a break to eat. Sometimes just taking the break can be more beneficial than sleep. Encourage them to take snacks, food and pop/soda with them in the truck. Never allow alcohol to be consumed during a snow event, even during a well deserved break from plowing.
Plow drivers tend to work in a shirtsleeve environment because of the need to have the heater going full blast in order to keep the engine from overheating. However, they should have warm clothing with them in case they get stuck and have to dig themselves out of a snow bank. They should be able to dress warmly even if just hooking up a tow strap so as to be pulled out of that snow bank. If any type of repairs need done on the plow – warm clothing will be welcome when having to work outside the cab of the truck.
These people are the lifeblood of our business. They need to be assured we care about them. Even if they don’t like it – insist that proper safety measures are practiced. It’s one of the most important things you can do to show you care.
