8 Ways to Keep Your Project on Track During Heavy Snowfall

By Oscar Collins

You’re a utility project manager facing an impending winter storm warning. The pressure is high to keep the project on its tight schedule to avoid financial penalties and ensure the safety of your crew in hazardous conditions.

Turn the seasonal threat into a manageable challenge with strategies that’ll help you prepare for, manage and recover from heavy snowfall.

1. Stay Up to Date on Weather News and Forecasts

Modern forecasting is your first line of defense. Always monitor the weather forecast in your area, and use it to make timely, data-driven decisions.

Use detailed meteorological apps or services that provide hour-by-hour predictions for snowfall accumulation, wind chill factors and ice formation potential. Consider setting up automated alerts for the specific project location so you can get instant notifications for watches or warnings.

2. Conduct a Pre-Winter Site Assessment

Before the ground is frozen or covered in snow, conduct a detailed site walkthrough to identify winter-related hazards. Map out all low-lying areas that could flood during a thaw, then freeze into dangerous ice slicks. Then, mark buried junction boxes and other low-profile infrastructure the snow will hide.

Predesignate large, safe areas for piling cleared snow where it won’t obstruct areas or melt into problematic locations. You can also stockpile winter-specific materials well in advance to avoid running out of critical supplies and shutting down the project.

3. Equip Your Site for Effective Snow Management

Rock salt can help melt ice, but it can damage concrete, kill vegetation and contaminate local water sources. Instead, invest in SaferChoice-certified de-icers, which are safer for the environment. Applying it before a storm is more effective than trying to melt thick ice after it has formed.

You should also diversify your removal equipment. A single plow is rarely enough for the varied terrain of a utility worksite. You’ll need a multi-pronged equipment strategy for efficient snow removal. For example, you can use a large truck plow to clear main access roads and parking lots, a skid-steer with pusher attachments for snow piling, and a commercial-grade snow blower for tight areas.

4. Reinforce Machinery Training

Familiarity with equipment can lead to complacency. Consider how more than 4,700 snow blower injuries put people in the ER in 2022.

Reduce the risk of worksite accidents by reviewing critical safety rules with your crew. You can also implement mandatory pre-shift inspections of all snow removal equipment to check for fluid leaks, worn parts and proper function.

5. Develop a Storm Contingency and Communication Plan

When the storm hits, confusion is the enemy. A preestablished communication plan ensures everyone has the information they need. You can create a dedicated group chat for real-time updates on-site closures and changing conditions and establish a phone tree for ensuring every member is safe and accounted for.

Prepare for power outages. Power lines can go down during large snowstorms, so invest in a generator. Find one that meets your operation’s crucial power needs, store enough fuel to last at least two to three days and keep the generator in a well-ventilated area.

Also, define clear go and no-go conditions to remove ambiguity and emotion from the decision to stop work. For example, cease all outdoor work if visibility drops below 100 feet and stop work in aerial shifts or bucket trucks if sustained winds exceed 30 mph.

6. Adapt Your On-Site Operations and Scheduling

Resources are limited during heavy snowfall, so prioritize critical path tasks that directly determine the project’s finish date. Instead of trying to do everything, focus on the jobs on this path, and ensure everyone is aware of the priority shift.

Implement phased site clearing. This approach treats snow removal like a strategic operation, prioritizing areas based on immediate need. It also conserves fuel, equipment hours and workforce for the most impactful jobs.

7. Focus on Specialized Crew Safety Protocols

Standard work gear is not sufficient for protecting against cold stress injuries. Make it a rule for workers to wear at least three layers and avoid tight clothing, as it can reduce circulation. Insulated, waterproof boots and gloves are nonnegotiable. Also, a significant amount of body heat is lost through the head, so wearing a warm hat or liner under hard hats is essential.

The best safety plan includes active protocols where every member feels responsible. Implement a buddy system and schedule mandatory warming breaks in heated trailers. Empower every employee with the authority to call a “safety stop” if they see a hazardous condition without fear of reprisal.

8. Document Everything for Future Planning

Record accurate data of how your operations fared during heavy snowfall to make better decisions in the future. Quantify the storm’s impact in hours and dollars, not just anecdotes. Create a simple, standardized “winter event report” form that site managers can fill out for every weather-related work stoppage.

Within a week of the weather event, hold a “lessons learned” meeting. The goal is not to assign blame but to identify weaknesses and refine your operations. Assess how well the communication protocols worked, identify unforeseen problems and determine what parts of the winter plan worked perfectly.

Turn Winter Challenges into Operational Strengths

Proactive planning, proper equipment and a safety-first culture are the pillars of successful project management when there’s heavy snowfall. Stay on top of your projects while demonstrating a higher level of professionalism and reliability, which can be a significant differentiator when bidding for future projects.

Oscar Collins is the editor-in-chief at Modded. He’s written for sites like Contractor and StartupNation. Follow him on Twitter at @TModded for frequent updates on his work.