As fall transitions to winter and the temperature drops, cold rains turn to light snow that blankets everything in sight. While this snow is often welcomed for how it changes the landscape into a beautiful winter wonderland, this colder precipitation also creates a coating of ice on roads and walkways.
This ice can be hazardous no matter where it is, but if it’s near your workplace, it can become a danger to your employees and patrons. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to de-ice your business’ exterior walkways, so you and everyone else who comes near your building remain safe. We’ll discuss some of the most accessible and most convenient winter safety de-icing methods so you can confidently be combating ice outside your workplace.
Rock salt is one of the most common ways to eliminate ice collected on roads and sidewalks. You’ve likely seen trucks spreading rock salt in preparation for heavy snowfall, and that’s because rock salt lowers the freezing point of water. When rock salt comes into contact with ice, it dissolves the water at the surface, creating salty water that melts deeper layers of ice.
Various forms of rock salt can be found at grocery stores or hardware stores, and evenly sprinkling it on the walkways near your business will prevent ice from forming. Chunks of rock salt also create traction that can help prevent people from slipping.
Liquid de-icer is essentially a solution of salt and water that can prevent ice from forming. This brine can be more precise than rock salt, as it will adhere to whatever surface it's applied to without displacing as salt chunks do. If you know that freezing rain or snow is in the forecast, use a liquid de-icer near the entrance to your building and any other places with high foot traffic to prevent any slips or falls.
If you cannot apply a de-icer but still want to keep your employees and patrons safe from slippery ice, you could use a granular substance like sand or gravel to create traction. While they may not melt the ice, sprinkling sand or gravel on slippery ice will give your shoes something to grip. Liberally spread your substance on major walkways in front of your business, and it will become much easier to enter and exit the building without slipping.
A snowblower can be an invaluable tool during the winter, as it can easily displace snow and ice to create a safe place for people to walk. If an abundance of ice has accumulated near your workplace, break it up with a shovel and run the snowblower over the area to remove it. It can be helpful to still use rock salt or liquid de-icer after using a snowblower to get rid of any remaining ice, but most of it should be out of the way.
Roni Davis is a writer, blogger, and legal assistant operating out of the greater Philadelphia area. She writes for Cousin Benny, a Philadelphia slip and fall lawyer.