snow removal in BuffaloWith the unprecedented Winter Storm Knife dropping up to 80 inches of snow in Buffalo and Western New York, we wanted to share some tips and considerations that should be taken for safe snow removal in Buffalo for your home or business. Always use caution and stay out of harm’s way.

Tips To Remove Snow Safely

• The roof may already be weakened by the weight of the snow. An added load of people and equipment may compromise the roof. A structural evaluation may be the best course of action before sending anyone on a roof
• It is dangerous to climb up on a snow covered roof, especially if the roof is sloped
• The best course of action is to remove snow from pitched roofs with a roof rake or other means that do not require standing on a snow-covered roof
• Whenever anyone is on a roof, falling of of the roof becomes a possibility. Fall protection is a definite requirement for anyone on a roof; whether it is flat or pitched. Fall protection may be guard rails, personal harnesses and fall arrest systems. Also, a harness and line that limits the travel distance so the person cannot reach the edge is a possible control
• You can’t tell what is under the snow as there may be sky lights, plumbing vent pipes, hatches, drains, and other building mechanical protrusions that may not be evident with snow covering them. These could be hazardous or dangerous; falling through an undetected sky light can be fatal. Consideration should be taken for each of these before attempting to remove snow from roofs
• Power lines and electrical service running to roofs can be a hazard. Contact with a power line, especially one running under the snow, can be fatal
• Some roofs use stone as a ballast to keep the roof membrane in place. You do not want to remove this stone during a snow removal process. Using a snow blower on a roof may accidentally remove this ballast and also send the stone flying from the snow blower
• Some flat roofs are covered in a rubber membrane and a snow blower or shovel could possibly damage the membrane, thus leading to leaks
• Powered equipment must be kept 10 feet or more from any roof edge
• A warning line at least 6′ from the roof edge, which runs parallel to the roof edge, must be erected when using mechanical equipment on roofs running in the same direction as the edge. If running perpendicular to the edge, the warning line needs to be 10′ from the roof edge

How To Prepare For Flooding

• Ensure downspouts are clear of obstruction and are directed away from all buildings
• Ensure important and expensive goods in basements and lower areas are off the floor and moved to a higher location, especially if there is a history of flooding
• Ensure sump pumps are in working order and the discharge is free of obstructions and directed away from buildings
• Add a piece of downspout to roof drains or sump pump discharges to direct the water further away from the building
• Consider the use of sand bags around furnaces and other hard to remove equipment in basements and other low lying areas, especially if there is a history of flooding
• If there is standing water in your basement, be aware of a possible electrical shock hazard from electric powered equipment or outlets in the water. If there is any possibility of electric exposure, do not enter the area until the water subsides
• Fire departments may have equipment to assist in pumping water from flooded basements and lower levels

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