Snow plow safety is important to your business and helping you keeping roads, driveways and parking lots clear in the winter. What’s the best way to keep your vehicles safe and your business steady during snow removal season? Here are a few snow plow safety tips you can incorporate into your snow plow business routine.
Daily Inspection
When the snow falls, the roads become dangerous and need to be cleared. Sometimes, snowfall is so heavy the only vehicles on the road are snow plows. Plowing snow can be treacherous, but just because the conditions are hazardous doesn’t mean it has to be dangerous. Taking the necessary precautions to ensure snow plow safety is an important part of the plowing business.
No one would ever want to fly in a plane that hadn’t been inspected properly before takeoff. While you may not be plowing at 35,000 feet, inspecting your vehicle prior to heading out on the road is a necessary step to ensuring snow plow safety.
Each part of the vehicle requires inspection. Windshield wipers are just as important to check as your tires and the snow plow itself. Don’t neglect an inspection of your lights and spreaders if you have them. Each part of your snow plow should be inspected to ensure your entire vehicle is safe for bad weather.
Drive Carefully
All the inspections in the world won’t help if you aren’t driving safely. In most circumstances, you’re working when the roads aren’t safe for others to be out. It can be tempting to rush through your plowing jobs, but increased speed in already precarious conditions isn’t a recipe for snow plow safety. In fact, trying to get done too quickly can be dangerous.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the faster you zip through your job, the higher the probability that your work will be sloppy. A good plow job is effective and thorough. To ensure long-term business partnerships you need to provide good service. Being known for rushed, careless work won’t build your business.
Know Your Jobsites
Knowing your jobsite is an important part of snow plow safety. You may be plowing the roads or a business but no matter the location, it’s vital to be familiar with the area you’re working in before you start clearing it.
No one likes surprises when plowing. When you don’t know your jobsite, a surprise pothole or other obstacle could damage your vehicle. And it’s no surprise how expensive a damaged vehicle can be. It can keep you off the road if repairs are needed which can cost you in lost business as well as repair expenses.
When you know your jobsite and are aware of obstacles in advance, you can bring markers to the location whether it’s a business or residential jobsite. Marking obstacles cuts down on surprises, reduces customer headaches and is a smart practice to ensure snow plow safety.
Keep Your Equipment Well-Maintained
Another important part of snowplow safety is maintenance. When you practice daily inspections it’s easy to keep your snow plow and vehicle properly maintained. Each piece of your equipment from the vehicle to the plow to the spreader and everything in between comes with care information from the manufacturer.
Scheduling regular maintenance as outlined in the manufacturer documentation will ensure your snow plow safety is on track so you can prevent breakdowns or damage rather than addressing them only when they occur. Preventative maintenance allows for scheduled service work versus emergency work and can reduce headaches for both you and your customers.
Don’t Overheat Your Engine
Even in subzero temperatures your engine can overheat if not treated properly. While plow vehicles are generally heavy duty, remember that snowplows are heavy. Snow is very heavy, too, and plowing it strains your vehicle.
To ensure snow plow safety, be sure to watch the temperature gauge when you plow to avoid overheating. If you do find your vehicle is overheating, check to see if the airflow to your radiator can be improved with an adjustment to the blade’s position. Increasing the influx of that naturally cold air can help bring down the engine temperature.
Pushing snow uphill exponentially increases the strain on your engine and thus, the possibility of overheating. While it isn’t always possible to avoid going uphill, try to avoid it whenever possible. You’ll lessen the workload you put on your engine and also the likelihood of overheating it.
It doesn’t take much to ensure snow plow safety, but incorporating these tips into your snow plow business routine can help you keep your vehicles safe and your business steady during snow removal season.
Ready for a New Snow Plow?
If you’re ready to equip your truck with a new snow plow, we can help answer your questions! The snowy season is here, so let our experts help you sooner rather than later.
Contact us online or give us a call at (801) 895-4419 to get started today!
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