Snow-Shoveling Safety Tips

December 5, 2018

What’s your favorite part about winter?
I bet I can guess.

It’s shoveling your driveway after it snows, isn’t it?
No?

Here is a list of tips that can keep you safe and make the shoveling easier for you this winter.

First of all, be aware that snow shoveling can be dangerous to your health. The heavy loads of snow can put a strain on your muscles. Also, the cold temperatures mixed with physical exertion can actually put some people at a higher risk for a heart attack due to the increase of the heart’s workload. Be aware of your health.
Wake up a little extra early to get your muscles warmed up. Walk around and stretch. It is strenuous work that you should prepare for.
Put on multiple layers of clothing to insulate your warmth.
Find the proper shovel. There are multiple different designs with different sizes and types of handles. Ergonomic, a scooper, a pusher, a steel-tipped design, some even have wheels. The kind of design you need depends on your driveway, your budget, and your preference.
Use proper shoveling technique. The technique you use to shovel your driveway can help to prevent injury.
- Bend your knees. Lift using your legs. Keep the blade close to you.
- If possible, push the snow to the edge of the driveway instead of lifting. This significantly decreases your chance of injury.
- When the snow is deep, shovel it in layers. Do a little bit at a time, as snow can be heavy.
Wet snow is heavier. The best time to shovel is soon after a snowfall when the snow is still fluffy.
Shovel in a path that works well with the design of your driveway. For example, start in the middle, pushing the snow out to the sides.
- Think ahead about your path to prevent accidentally pushing snow into an area of the driveway that has already been shoveled.
- You don’t want to make huge piles, as the snow could topple over right back onto your driveway.
Stay hydrated.