Snow plowing is a valuable community service that is relied upon nationwide during the winter months. Trucks and heavy equipment outfitted with high-quality snow plows are able to efficiently remove snow from roads, parking lots, and other areas, enabling safe travel for both pedestrians and vehicles.
Snow plowing may not be considered a particularly dangerous profession but whenever you're working with such powerful equipment, it's important to be mindful that any safety oversights could result in damage or injury. Observing safe operating habits is the best way to protect yourself, your equipment, your client's property, and those around your working area.
5 Key Tips to Operate Your Snow Plow Safely
Whether this is your first season driving a snow plow or you're a veteran snow management operator, it never hurts to brush up on essential snow plowing safety tips.
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Inspect Equipment Before Plowing
Before every snow clearing job, it's important to thoroughly inspect all of your equipment. This includes both the snow plow itself and the vehicle it's attached to. Begin by making sure that your hydraulic wing plow, snow pusher box or other snow plow attachment is in good operating condition and hasn't sustained damage. If your plow blade has been damaged or worn down on previous jobs, it could result in inefficient snow plowing. You should also make sure the tires or treads of your vehicles are in good shape so you don't get stuck replacing them on the job. Ensure that headlights are functional, too, which is especially critical for nighttime snow plowing jobs. Finally, inspect all connections between your snow plow attachment and your vehicle to verify that it won't come loose while in operation.
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Plan Before You Plow
Before you jump in the driver's seat of your skid steer, wheel loader, tractor or plow truck, it's important to know the ins and outs of the snow clearing job you're undertaking. You need to know where the snow you're plowing is being piled to make sure you don't accidentally obstruct roads, walkways, fire hydrants or mailboxes. It's also important to know whether or not anyone might be using the commercial property you're plowing; the last thing you want is to accidentally crash into a vehicle or pedestrian passing through. If there are any potential obstacles in the lot you're plowing, mark them with flags or posts to ensure you don't accidentally strike them with your plow.
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Slow and Steady Wins
After a major snowfall when plowing jobs are plentiful, it may be tempting to rush through one to get to the next. Don't make this mistake. Snow plowing is always safest when performed at a slow speed. Regardless of what snow plow attachment and plowing vehicle you're using, your speed while clearing snow should not exceed 15 mph. Any faster than this, and you increase the chances of damaging the surface being plowed, as well as the risk of collisions. There's also the possibility of losing control of your vehicle if you attempt to make maneuvers on slippery snow and ice while moving too fast. Efficiency is key in snow plowing, but so is taking it slow and steady to complete each job safely and thoroughly.
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Adjust for the Plowing Surface
If you have experience with snow management, then you probably know that plowing an asphalt road is very different from plowing a gravel parking lot. Every surface comes with unique challenges and it's important to adjust your plowing equipment and methods accordingly. Before you get to work, be certain that your snow plow attachment is angled properly to scrape all snow from the surface beneath without digging in and causing damage. This can most easily be accomplished with high-quality adjustable attachments, such as hydraulic wing plows.
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Don't Overheat Your Vehicle
Hours of uninterrupted snow plowing can take a toll on your equipment, causing it to overheat and break down. This can result in a costly delay to your snow clearing services and even more costly equipment repairs. Keep a close eye on your vehicle's temperature gauge while clearing snow. If your snow plowing machinery begins running too hot, you may need to take a break to let it cool off.
High-Quality Snow Plow Attachments for Safe, Efficient Snow Management
To maximize your safety and efficiency while clearing snow, consider investing in top-of-the-line snow plow attachments. Contact Storm Equipment today if you'd like to purchase snow pusher box plows, hydraulic wing plows or any other snow removal equipment!
