SNOW and ICE REMOVAL
Best Practice
This practice will ensure consistent snow and ice removal throughout the University.
Program Scope
This program applies to all snow and ice removal services throughout the University. The program mandates daily visual inspection of the parking lots and sidewalks and consistent communication between University Facilities staff and snow plow contractors.
Responsibilities
FACILITIES DEPARTMENT
- Perform a daily visual inspection of parking lots and sidewalks at the start of each shift and again as weather situations dictate throughout the shift to identify slip and fall hazards.
- Maintain telephone communication with snow plow contractors during and after a snow storm to ensure the parking lots are plowed after the 2” depth requirement is met.
- Develop, issue, review and award the annual RFP for “Snow/Ice Removal RFP”.
- Monitor contractor adherence to the provisions of the RFP
- Implement and enforce the standards as listed.
Process
- By early October of each year, Facilities will issue bids for snow removal contracts for the coming winter (November 15 through March 31).
- Plowing of snow by contractors will only occur when the snow depth is 2” or more.
- Mechanical snow removal by contractors or University personnel will be performed in such a manner that does not impede free access to vehicular traffic on access roads, entrances and other access areas, designated handicapped parking, dumpster areas and enclosures, receiving areas and docks, and fire lanes.
- Snow piles created as a result of plowing activities will not be located in areas that impede driver vision of other vehicles or pedestrians or create a hazard to vehicles or pedestrians.
- Any snow piles impeding driver vision or creating a hazard to vehicles or pedestrians will be promptly bucketed and removed.
- All parking lot and sidewalk snow and ice removal must be accomplished within eight hours after the conclusion of a winter storm event.
- Campuses must be available for vehicle and pedestrian use by 7:00 AM.
- During snow removal operations, handicapped parking spaces, sidewalk ramps, and fire lanes shall receive priority attention to remove snow and slush accumulations and to prevent the buildup of ice.
- These areas will be visually inspected by Facilities at the start of each shift to ensure that melting snow and ice has not refrozen, creating a slip and fall hazard or creating a hardship for handicapped persons.
- These areas are to be plowed, hand shoveled and if necessary, salted to eliminate the ice and snow.
- Davenport University Facilities will ensure that at no time will the exterior of any fire exit door and/or exterior concrete slab leading from a fire door is blocked or impassable because of snow or ice buildup. All such areas are to receive priority attention to remove snow and slush accumulations and to prevent the buildup of ice.
- Salting of parking lots by contractors will only occur when authorized by the campus Facility Director or designee. Salting of parking lots and sidewalks by a contractor after plowing will not be considered an automatic action. The campus Facility Director or designee must approve all salting applications in advance of the application. The volume of salt applied by the plowing contractor will be sufficient to make safe the areas being salted, but will not be excessive to the point that salt accumulates in piles along curb lines and low-traffic areas.
- The application of salt or ice melt at building entrances, whether by Facilities staff or contractor, will have as a goal the reduction of salt residue tracked into the buildings while at the same time utilizing a minimal amount of salt or ice melt to eliminate slip and fall hazards at building entrances.
- To this end, the heavier quantities of salt or ice melt will be applied farthest away from the building entrance with the application rate becoming less closer to the building entrance. Foot traffic into the building will migrate the salt/ice melt towards the entrance.