Winter Maintenance for Commercial Properties
On this page:
- free winter maintenance resources
- beneficial practices for businesses and commercial properties
- resources for snow and ice removal services
Salt is a major water quality concern. The salt spread on the ground does not go away. Some of this salt soaks into the ground to mix with groundwater, the water we drink. Once the salt is in the water, there is no easy fix to remove it.
Join other businesses taking steps to use less salt without compromising winter safety.
Free winter maintenance resources
We have resources to support your winter maintenance plan including:
- Posters, decals and signs to share information with staff and visitors
- Worksheet to support winter maintenance planning
- Sample templates and forms for record keeping and contracts
- Webinar recordings and videos
- Fact sheets and articles
Beneficial practices for business and commercial properties
Follow a complete winter maintenance plan
- Prepare your plan with the help of our free winter maintenance planning worksheet
- Find out if your property qualifies for a free property review to help with completing the planning worksheet
- Have a plan to deal with ice when it is too cold for salt to work (around -10 C)
- Discuss with your contractor changes to use less salt on your site to reduce salt staining and property damage
Deal with potential slip and fall hazards before they occur
- Walk your property to understand where ice forms and how to prevent it
- Know where to store plowed snow so it doesn't form ice across your parking lot
- Close areas not requiring winter maintenance. Areas to consider include overflow parking, seasonal patios, extra walkways and stairways. Request your free sign that explains to visitors why the area is closed. Benefits of closing areas might include:
- focus efforts on high traffic areas
- reduce plowing and salting costs and repairs from salt damage
- manage risk from potential slip and fall hazards
- provide a location to store plowed snow
Prepare your team for winter
- Require salt training for your winter maintenance team. This includes hired services. The Smart About Salt Council offers training.
- Maintain annual documentation of winter maintenance activities and employee and/or contractor training. Good record keeping helps to demonstrate standard of care was met in the event of a liability claim.
Resources for snow and ice removal services
- Complete salt management training and certify as a Smart About Salt contractor through the Smart About Salt Council
- Eligible Smart About Salt certified contractors can sign up for free weather forecasts to support record keeping requirements
- Offer your client materials to support their winter maintenance plan
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