Winter Maintenance for Commercial Properties

Free property review

Properties near municipal groundwater wells may need to follow a winter maintenance Risk Management Plan as a requirement of the Grand River Source Protection Plan, 2022 and Clean Water Act, 2006.

For a limited time, the Region of Waterloo is offering free property reviews to properties requiring a risk management plan. During the 60-minute consultation, a Region of Waterloo representative will walk the property with you to identify actions to reduce salt use while maintaining winter safety.

Complete this form to find out if your business requires a risk management plan and qualifies for this free service.

Winter maintenance planning worksheet

Whether you clear the snow or hire a service, you are ultimately responsible for dealing with it for the safety of others. Use this worksheet to help design your winter maintenance plan including:

• Salt training for your team and hired contractor’s staff
• Contracting salt by unit price per event or lump sum per season 
• A plan to maintain good records in case of a slip and fall claim 
• Walking your property to understand where ice forms, and how to prevent it
• Identifying where to store plowed snow that keeps ice from forming across your parking lot due to melt and freeze weather
• A plan to deal with ice when it is too cold for salt to work (around -10°C)
• Close areas not requiring winter maintenance

Free winter maintenance resources

The Region of Waterloo has resources to support your winter maintenance plan including:

• Winter maintenance planning resources
• Health and safety notices
• Record keeping log sheets
• Contract templates
• Salt storage bin decals
• Signs to close areas not receiving winter maintenance

Salt management training and certification

Complete salt management training and certify as a Smart About Salt contractor through the Smart About Salt Council.

Free daily weather forecasts

Eligible Smart About Salt contractors can sign up for free weather forecasts. Your business must be a Smart About Salt certified contractor in good standing with the Smart About Salt Council and servicing Waterloo Region.

The weather forecasts are emailed four times a day from October to April and are available for three geographic areas within Waterloo Region.

Complete this form to find out if you qualify for the free weather forecast service.

Free winter maintenance resources

The Region of Waterloo has resources to support your clients winter maintenance plans including:

• Health and safety notices
• Record keeping log sheets
• Salt storage bin decals
• Signs to close areas not receiving winter maintenance

Webinars

• Winter maintenance for commercial properties - managing your slip and fall risk and cost saving tips (Region of Waterloo, Oct. 19, 2023) Learn how to identify areas where ice might form and proactive steps you can take now to manage those slip and fall hazards this winter. We will also share practical tips and resources for your winter maintenance plan. Length: 27:39
• Sustainable Winter Management Workshop 2023 (Partners in Project Green, Sept. 14, 2023) Sustainability professionals, operations and property managers, and winter maintenance contractors came together to deliver a half-day workshop on sustainable winter maintenance.

Literature

• Actions to consider when preparing your winter maintenance plan (infographic)
• Closing areas information sheet
• Winter maintenance planning worksheet
• Eight actions for your winter maintenance plan
• Impacts of salt (infographic)

Videos

• Contracts and training (1:59) - information to consider as part of your winter maintenance contract and the importance of including training.
• Identifying slip and fall hazards (2:40) - Identify areas where ice can form in the winter and actions you can take to deal with potential slip and fall hazards.