Landscape and Irrigation is read by decision makers throughout the landscape and irrigation markets — including contractors, landscape architects, professional grounds managers, and irrigation and water mgmt companies and reaches the entire spetrum.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/43789
Snow and Ice Management to ease the demands each event puts on his employees. Upgrading equipment can provide more comfortable condi- tions for operators and help prevent burn out and fatigue. "By of- fering workers a tractor with a cab, you are providing them a pristine work environment," stated Marino. Marino estimates he will increase production and add more sidewalk business because workers are not burned out and physically spent due to labor- intensive sidewalk snow removal. By hand or machine There will always be a need for hand tools to remove snow and ice. Stairs, closed-in walkways and tight areas still need to be main- tained with shovels or hand pushers. However, when a storm puts down sheets of ice on a sidewalk, shoveling will not produce the necessary results. Mechanized machines or walk-behind equip- ment are alternatives to shoveling. There again, this presents the need to evaluate the effectiveness of labor costs and time spent per job. These options work well for short distances, but when clean- ing miles and miles of walkways — or for heavy snow and ice — contractors still find them less productive and less cost effective. Evaluating the situation is critical for using the right equip- ment. "Every storm is different and requires different equipment," stated Marino. "Contractors need to adapt equipment according to the type of storm." Marino currently uses shovels, ATVs and walk-behind snowblowers to manage sidewalks. Because these are labor-intensive, and workers are exposed to the elements, he is turning to sub-compact tractors for his sidewalk jobs. "We are turning to mechanizing every part of our company," said Marino. "You have to remain productive in order to compete." Over the past several years, the use of sub-compact tractors for snow removal has increased. Many compact units are multi- functional and offer multiple attachments for use on one power unit. Many snow and ice professionals find that sub-compact trac- tors with attachments are very useful to keep ahead of the competi- tion and manage labor costs. Attachments such as brooms, angle blades, spreaders and snow blowers allow the compact machines to kick up productivity without the need to haul multiple machines to the job site. Bob St. Jacques, owner of Four Seasons Landscaping, Inc., operates six Ventrac tractors in his business in Connecticut. "Sub-compact tractors offer contractors the ability to run a broom or v-blade on the front and a spreader on the back, which really pumps up production," said Isaac Roth, Snow and Ice Spe- cialist at Ventrac. "The articulating frame allows the unit to move on, off and around sidewalks easily and efficiently; and the heated cabs really keep drivers protected." Keep them comfortable; keep them safe ATVs and other quad-type vehicles equipped with plows, blades or brooms remain popular choices for sidewalks. They have their benefits when cleaning larger areas, but don't offer operators protection from the elements. "We don't have any machine that is sidewalk specific," stated Johnson. "We use a four-wheeler with a plow and salt spreader for our sidewalks." Many contractors, in- cluding Johnson, do not like the idea their workers are unpro- tected from the elements, but are challenged with finding a sidewalk machine that improves efficiency and provides operator protection. Sidewalk imperfections also present a huge drawback in using these type of units as operators have been thrown over the front of the unit, causing serious injury. Skid-steers remain one piece of equipment that is used quite often for sidewalk snow removal. They perform zero-radius turns and can function in larger areas as well. They also offer some weather protection for operators. The main concern with skid- steers is the realization they were not designed for clearing narrow places and can potentially damage turf and landscaping that border sidewalks. Units with simple controls that are easy to operate and do not require days of training are a plus for any company. If workers are comfortable with the equipment, they can devote more hours to production. Many advanced improvements in operation, control and function of sub-compact tractors offer operators more com- fort and safety. Most come equipped with a cab as an added bonus to elimi- nate operator fatigue and exposure to the harsh elements. Finding the perfect match Snow professionals know that managing side- walks is not an easy service, but it can be a prof- itable portion of any snow-contracting business if the right processes are in place. Worker comfort and safety should be high on the list. Equipment that offers high productivity, is user friendly, and pro- vides worker comfort and safety should be part of the consideration as well. Once you find that per- fect synergy of equipment and crews, you have won half the battle. Renae Beegle is the journalist and media coordinator for Venture Products, Inc. For more information, visit www.ventrac.com. For more snow and ice management coverage, includ- ing snow and ice management equipment, visit www.LandscapeIrrigation.com 22 Landscape and Irrigation October 2011 www.landscapeirrigation.com LI