Winter Maintenance Resources

Posters

• Display in employee areas
• Two designs to choose from
• 8.5 inches x 11 inches

Ordering information:

• Complete online form for posters, decals and window clings
• Download poster
  • Winterize your feet poster 1
  • Winterize your feet poster 2

Window clings

• Attach to glass in visible location at entrances
• Vinyl window cling, printed on one side, self-sticks to glass, removable at end of season
• Four versions to choose from
• 5 inches x 7.5 inches

Ordering information:

• Complete online form for posters, decals and window clings

Recording salt use at entrances and walkways

Post the Salt Record Keeping form by entrances to record salt used when icy and between contractor visits.

• Salt Record Keeping Sheet (PDF)

Record keeping log sheet

Refer to these sample activity logs to create your own log sheet to accurately measure winter maintenance activities and monitor the implementation of best practices. Tailor as needed according to circumstances.

• Sample record keeping form (Smart About Salt Council)
• Sample record keeping form (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency)

Calibrating equipment

Calibrating equipment provides guidance on how to verify salt spreader application rates in order to ensure operators of spreading equipment area able to apply salt at application rates that are appropriate for the condition and level of service being sought. By understanding and recording the amount of salt being applied, contractors can better estimate their annual operational costs, apply salt responsibly and offer evidence of due diligence when challenged.

• Verification protocol for parking lot salt spreaders (PDF)
• Salt spreader verification worksheet (PDF)
• Salt calibration calculations (XLS)

*Credit to Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program

Additional resources

• The side with the best records often wins a slip and fall lawsuit (Landscape Ontario)
• Legislative solutions to slip and fall liability (Landscape Ontario)

Free property review

For a limited time, the Region of Waterloo is offering free consultations 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.

If your property does not require a risk management plan, you will be directed to an alternate planning worksheet you can use to design your winter maintenance plan.

Planning worksheet

Your winter maintenance plan should include:

• 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)

Salt bin decal

Attach to salt storage bins and on salt buckets as a reminder about responsible salt use.

• Apply to lid of salt storage bin or on salt bucket
• 8 inches x 6 inches

Ordering information:

• Complete online form for posters, decals and window clings

Area closed sign

Use the Area Closed sign to close off unneeded areas that do not block emergency exits, accessibility ramps or entrances. Examples of areas to close in the winter include overflow parking, seasonal patios, extra walkways and stairways.

Benefits may include:

• Allows winter maintenance team to focus efforts on high traffic areas
• Reduce winter maintenance costs and repairs from salt damage
• Manage risk from potential slip and fall hazards
• Reduce winter maintenance costs from plowing and salting
• Offers location to store plowed snow

Sign specifications:

• Size: 30 cm wide x 45 cm high (12 inches wide x 18 inches high)
• Material: aluminum steel
• Weight: 0.5 kg (1.1 lbs.)
• Display options: hang from chains, mount on post or attach to fence (property owner responsible for hardware to display sign)
• Read the information sheet to learn more

Ordering information:

• Complete online form for Area Closed sign

Additional resources

• Infographic: preparing your property for winter (Region of Waterloo)
• Best practices deliver big results (Landscape Trades magazine - snow & ice issue)
• Manual of best management practices for road salt in winter maintenance (Clear Roads)
• Good practices for winter maintenance in salt vulnerable areas (Conservation Ontario and Ontario Good Roads Association)
• Procurement guidance for parking lot snow and ice management (Toronto and Region Conservation Authority)
• Salt application best practices for winter maintenance contracts (Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program)
• Parking lot design guidelines (Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority)
• Alternates to salt (Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program)
• Sand versus salt (Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority)