Snow Removal

During winter weather conditions, the prioritization of snow removal is necessary. The health and safety of everyone on campus is our number one priority. This plan has been created to inform all students, faculty, and staff the snow removal processes and guidelines that will be used to make the Albion College experience during the winter months as safe as possible.

These will be reviewed annually. All revisions or updates will be done as the need arises.

Initial Procedures

Mobilization for snow removal will be determined by the Director of Grounds during the normal working hours of 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and weekends if necessary.

The Director of Grounds will monitor weather forecasts. In the event adverse snow-related weather is forecasted, the Director will contact Campus Safety prior to the end of the work day (or during the weekend) to discuss an appropriate plan of action.

Guidelines

A snow-related event exists under the following conditions:

• The amount of accumulated snow/ice results in the necessary removal during/after normal working hours;
• Sleet or iced over conditions exist during/after normal working hours;
• The amount of accumulated snow/ice requires additional attention to ensure the safety of planned athletic events or academic activities during/after normal working hours.

All other snow conditions will be addressed at the beginning of the next work day.

Snow Removal Equipment

• Ventrac sidewalk snow vehicle, with brush and thrower attachments
• Two Chevy trucks with plows/Boss salt spreaders
• Two Gators with Boss V-Plows/rear salt drop-spreader applicators
• Kubota F3680 with snow blade/brush/snow thrower attachments
• John Deere 1545 with snow blade
• John Deere 4044 tractor with snow blade attachment
• Boss snow pusher
• Snow throwers
• Snow-Ex sprayer for liquid de-icer, if applicable
• Shovels/ice picks
• ProTech Turf Plow attachment for synthetic athletic fields

Snow Removal Procedures

The Director of Grounds will assign personnel and equipment for snow removal. Every effort will be made to safely and efficiently clear steps, entrances, walkways and parking lots within 24 hours following the end of a snow event. Snow removal efforts will commence for sidewalks and walkways when the snow reaches a depth of one inch.

All walkways and sidewalks will be treated with calcium chloride pellets or rock salt. Liquid brine will be used if applicable. In the event of a major snow accumulation resulting in the inability of the staff to safely stage snow, an outside contractor may be necessary to remove snow off campus.

1. Steps and building entrances will be shoveled or plowed, with an emphasis on designated handicapped areas.
2. Selected lots and roads will be plowed
3. Snow removal from curb cutouts will be prioritized, with follow-up attention to those areas following city plowing of streets.
4. Steps, handicap areas, and building entrances will be revisited throughout the duration of the snow event as needed.
5. Ice melt/rock salt will be used on designated handicap location. Building entrances and steps will also be treated.
6. Application of ice/snow melt products will be applied to selected lots after clearing.
7. These procedures will continue, as needed, throughout the duration of the snow event.

General Information

Administration, Academic, and Residential buildings will have access to 5-gallon pails of calcium chloride pellets at entryways and stairs. Staff and students who maintain a vehicle on campus should also be prepared. We recommend that everyone have a snow shovel and a small amount of calcium chloride in the trunk of their personal vehicle. It is also recommended that staff and students use appropriate footwear for the conditions. The Grounds team will make an effort to get as close to vehicles in the parking areas as possible. Due to slippage resulting in the possible damage to vehicles, space between cleared paths and vehicles will be left which can result in mounding of snow.

Snow-Removal Priority List