Winter maintenance tools

Design your winter maintenance plan with worksheet

The Region of Waterloo is offering a free service to complete your winter maintenance plan worksheet. Complete this form to find out if your business requires a risk management plan and qualifies for this free service.

Upon completion of the form, a Region of Waterloo representative will contact you.

• If your property requires a risk management plan, you will receive:
  • confirmation a risk management plan is required
  • the worksheet to complete your risk management plan
  • option to book a free consultation to complete your worksheet
• 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

Preparing your winter maintenance plan should include:

• Salt training for your team and hired contractor’s staff
• 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)

Include winter reminders with stickers, posters and window clings

• Apply stickers to salt storage bins as a reminder about responsible salt use
• Display posters and window clings to promote winter safety
• Download poster: winter safety poster 1 or winter safety poster 2

Order form to request your winter reminders

Close unneeded parking and walking areas using Area Closed sign

Close unneeded areas that do not block emergency exits, accessibility ramps or entrances. Examples of areas to close include overflow parking, seasonal patios, extra walkways and stairways.

Benefits of closing unneeded areas 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

Are you closing areas this winter? Request your free Area Closed sign.

Area Closed 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)
• Additional information: Closed area program information sheet

Training videos

A new approach to winter maintenance

Learn about the importance of following a complete winter maintenance plan and steps to get started.

Contracts and training

Information to consider as part of your winter maintenance contract and the importance of including training.

Identifying slip and fall hazards

Identify areas where ice can form in the winter and actions you can take to deal with potential slip and fall hazards.