Winter Maintenance Programme- Snow and Ice Clearance

We are now moving into the winter period which brings additional challenges with keeping safe to, from and whilst at the workplace.  Cold weather and shorter periods of daylight mean there is more potential for accidents to happen.  With a little planning, these can be avoided.

Businesses and Public organisations have a “duty of care” and are required to keep areas safe for staff and all public users.  Below are some simple but effective strategies that believe it or not many people take for granted….but when the weather hits they wished they’d put a plan in place!

Adverse Weather

Monitor weather conditions often, (www.bbc.co.uk/weather) as changes may well impact on the decision to remain open for business or close.  If the decision is to remain open, snow and ice clearance should be carried out safely.  Last year there were incidents where highway traffic lost control on ice and slid into work areas; office and works staff slipped and fell on ice in car parks and individuals slipped and fell on ground that was frozen during early mornings and dark evenings, all of these could have been prevented with adequate planning.

What is APT Ice Break - Extreme?  This Revolutionary New Product Help You Reduce Risk and Safeguard your Staff and Clients http://www.aptcleaningsupplies.co.uk/products/92-ice-break.aspx

Preparing for Winter Working

Snow and Ice Clearance

Have you adequate arrangements in place to move snow, de-ice walkways, steps and vehicle routes? If de-icing is to be undertaken locally make sure you have carried out a risk assessment and communicated the requirements to individuals so they are competent to undertake the task and to use any manual Ice Break spreaders.  Plan what area you will move snow to as this may well cause a secondary hazard if not placed correctly.

Who is going to carry out the work, what resources do you have available, what is the cost of that resource? Sometimes there is no one to do this task or no one willing to do it! Do you have the tools or adequate specialist products for the job?  

After the snow has fallen, the ice becomes the biggest problem; as the snow melts it is essential to remove the water quickly from the surface, to drain it away in order to stop it refreezing, thereby causing a bigger risk. If temperatures remain low or drops during the night the problem will persist and prolong the situation, remember ice is much more difficult to remove when bonded to the surface. The snow should be removed completely from the affected key areas ensuring a clear passage, this must include all drains.

Many locations got caught out last year when there was an unprecedented demand for grit, salt and snow shovels. Stay on the safe side, be prepared – get stocked up now. Ask about Ice Break now and be safe in the knowledge that you have the best possible product at hand as soon as you should need it.

Drains & Drainage

It is recommended that drain & gully clearance is carried out early to ensure excess water is free to drain off.  

Remember to de-ice the drain pots & check periodically for clearance during long periods of adverse weather.

NB: Last year there were several issues registered when ice and water got under pavers and refroze causing expansion of joints. The damage required pathways to be closed and subsequent costly reinstatement works for the business…

NEVER de-ice drains with grit or clay based products as they will cause blockages and prevent water dispersing. Ice Break will perform the job perfectly without causing blockages!

Gutters

A number of locations had to close walkways around buildings where icicles had built up around gutters; these subsequently fell to ground during warmer spells only to re-freeze later. Make sure gutters & drains are free of leaves or debris; plan alternative routes and for de-icing arrangements now in case walkways have to be closed.

Lighting

Adequate lighting around walkways both inside and out is particularly important at this time of year.  Existing lighting needs to be checked to ensure it still works correctly after the summer months and new or amended walkways and pedestrian crossings need to be assessed to determine if additional lighting is required.

Water and Heating

In winter it is important to ensure that water supplies do not freeze by ensuring that exposed pipes are correctly lagged and in case a burst does occur, do you know where to isolate the supply?  Boiler maintenance should be carried out if necessary to ensure these run efficiently and are free from leaks and other problems ahead of the winter period.  Any gas heaters must have adequate ventilation - Carbon Monoxide is a silent killer.

Building Maintenance

Last year we had a number of incidents where either materials or the fabric of the buildings became dislodged and fell to ground in high winds.  Ensure that housekeeping standards are maintained, that items are secured and report any damage such as cracked window panes, roof tiles ,loose guttering or similar.

Vehicles and Plant

Mirrors, windscreens, reversing cameras and lights have a tendency to get obscured due to mud, dirt and other materials that get thrown up at this time of year.  Plant operators must ensure they regularly clean their windows, mirrors and reversing cameras so they can safely see all around.  Lights on all vehicles should be cleaned regularly to ensure vehicles are visible at all times.  Make sure your vehicle is prepared for winter with regards to windscreen wash, de-icer and good tyres etc.

Look out for the build-up of leaves and algae on pathways or steps that could cause a slip hazard, one individual we know of slipped and injured their back last year on debris left in a walkway. Ask us about our revolutionary ice melting clearance product ice break and other winter products ranges to help keep you save and open for business this winter from our webpage http://www.aptcleaningsupplies.co.uk/products/92-ice-break.aspx  

Speak to our APT Site Services team who carry out annual and winter maintenance programs for our clients including the following:-

1.      Path and Drain Clearance – High Pressure Jet Washing

2.      High level Access Cleaning– Guttering & Water Goods

3.      Property Clearance, Cleans & Waste Disposal

4.      Commercial Renovation

5.      Emergency Clean Ups - Flooding

6.      Post Severe Weather Repairs

7.      Road Re-surfacing & Minor Pot-Hole Repairs                                                      

8.      Roofing & Masonry Re-pointing

9.      M&E - Building & Engineering Works                                     

10.    Deep Cleans and Sanitations

How Do Ice Melt Products Work? – Make an Informed Choice

Rock Salt and Grit Based Products

Up to now property managers generally use salt & grit based ice melting compounds usually Sodium chloride (rock salt) as a base ingredient combined with grit, sand and clay fillers.

De-icers work by attracting moisture to form liquid brine which generates heat to melt the ice. The product must reach the pavement or surface to become most effective. Once on the surface this "brine" can spread out on the ice and begin to break its bond with the surface. As the ice is loosened it can be more easily shovelled away and allows excess water to dissipate to drains.

The rate of melting depends on how fast the specific chemical reacts to the existing moisture. Ice melting products work best if applied before snow or ice accumulates.

Determining Product Effectiveness

One of the first things to look at is the range of temperatures that a product will work in. In the UK we can expect around – 10c as normal and a reasonable time of work period, generally 15 to 20 minutes to take effect.

Ice melters must dissolve into a solution quickly to be effective. When these chemicals come in contact with water a reaction occurs that gives off heat in order to melt ice and snow. The longer the contact time the greater the effect.  

Limitations of Salt Based Products

Sodium Chloride (Rock Salt). This is the most commonly used product, yet it has limited effectiveness in extreme cold conditions (fails to work below - 5c degrees) and does not have time to melt hard frozen ice often before re-freezing itself or become effective in dissipating the water. It has a limited working life of only up to five hours and constantly requires repeat application. Rock salt attacks and corrodes; concrete, pathways , tarmac and other surfaces. It is corrosive towards steel fittings and causes damage to flooring, carpets, footwear, lawns, trees and shrubs. Rock salt it is often very difficult to distribute evenly and require trained manual labour, tools, or spreading equipment. Often rock salt becomes hardened and lumps up in the bags or grit stores with limited shelf life.  

What is APT Ice Break?  How Can Our Revolutionary Product Help You With Your Winter Maintenance Planning This Season?

Ice Break is a specialised product, an effective alternative to grit and sodium chloride. It is manufactured by removing all the products own liquid content then converting it into small lightweight pellets. Since it is a liquid in its natural state then it quickly reacts and returns to a liquid rapidly absorbing moisture from the atmosphere or ice ( 8 times faster than salt ) effectively breaking the ice bond with the surface helping to remove the surplus water .

·         Working Temperatures - It continually works extremely well even in low temperatures down to -25c degrees, therefore it ideal for the average UK winter temperatures.

·         Work Time - Ice Break has a prolonged work time for periods of up to 48 hours in one application has been recorded.

·         Easy Dispensing- Its small light weight pellets are simple and easy to apply and requires no special equipment or trained especially labour (just sow like grass seed).

·         Coverage - It covers an area around eight times bigger than rock salt and other grit based products.

·         Ice Break dissolves rapidly leaving no residues therefore these is no further action required or cost for clean up or drain maintenance & Stores for up to three years in re sealable ,re-usable buckets.

·         Less Damaging - Ice break is far less corrosive, safer on concrete and less damaging to plants or animals, shoes and flooring.

·         Value - The initial purchase cost is often deemed to be higher for Ice Break than conventional products however the benefits are far superior in terms of use and effectiveness.

·         Effective - Ice Break’s lasting effectiveness can last as long as two days in one application which can reduces labour costs and call outs. Most companies find because Ice Break is so quick & easy to dispense they can often pass on the job of clearing main access routes to the caretaker or security team as part of their daily routine during adverse periods allowing clear access for staff and public to arrive and leave safely.

Important to Note

Some ice melt products contain fillers or chemicals commonly found in fertilizers, but that does not mean they are safe to use around vegetation. At high concentrations these chemicals are harmful to plants and animals. The fillers also leave residues which are unsightly and require clean up similar to rock salt.

How to Use Ice Break to Maximum Effect

Spread the product thinly over the surface. In very cold weather it may be helpful to add some water to the product to begin the melting process as it is the chemical solution of the product and water that actually does the work.

Tips

·         Don't over-apply the product; follow the instructions on the label.

·         Don't try to melt everything. Before applying ice melt, make sure any snow accumulation has been shovelled or brushed off.

·         Wear gloves when applying ice melt.

·         The product sometimes irritates bare skin.

·         Make sure the container is tightly sealed when storing the product as Ice break can absorb moisture from the air and harden.

·         Like other ice melting products, do not use Ice Break on new concrete that has not fully cured.

·         All products will have some impact on sensitive environments. If you suspect plants have been damaged from runoff (look for stunted growth, portions of the plant dying back, browning of foliage), simply flush the area with plenty of water in the spring