Raising the bar in snow and ice

SIMA provides free industry best practices and standards

By Martin Tirado, CAE
In October 2017, SIMA mailed 30,000 readers of Snow Business magazine in North America our Purchasing Snow & Ice Management: Quality RFP Creation and Best Practices. It’s the newest publication in our reservoir of resources that will become industry standards. And it’s free (download here) for anyone interested in reading and implementing it into their business practices. 

The Purchasing Snow & Ice Management document is rich in detail and specificity on the essential components of what should be included in the final agreement that properties have with snow and ice service providers, such as level of service, how to build and define a scope of work, contractual terms and definitions and more. Similar to other SIMA best practice publications, this document was developed with input from a broad and diverse stakeholder group, not just service providers. Property owners and managers can use and adopt the contents to the same extent that service providers can. That’s a win-win business proposition that enables long-term trust and value.

As this best practice document is used by more professionals every year, it naturally becomes an industry standard. The same can be said of all of SIMA’s best practices, which are free for download at www.sima.org/bestpractices.

SIMA creates its best practices for free to serve the needs of the professional snow and ice industry. We will continue to do so and are committed to the following principles of best practices and standards:

Open Access. Guides are available to all industry stakeholders at no cost, regardless of whether they are members of SIMA.

Education. SIMA spearheads educational partnerships and communication programs to help all parties adopt best practices.

Comprehensive. Best practices documents are reviewed by a large group of industry stakeholders representing multiple areas of expertise.

Quality Control & Transparency. The best practices documents are living documents, and suggestions, recommendations or concerns can be submitted online at www.sima.org. 

The feedback SIMA has received on our best practices and standards has been positive in many ways. We will continue to lead with professionalism as we expand our inventory of industry best practices and standards. Our next step will be further developed at our 2018 Season Opener event, tentatively scheduled for September in Milwaukee, WI. An announcement on the exact date, hotel location and agenda is coming soon. For now, please download, read and share the snow and ice industry best practices and standards, the glossary of terms, and best practices checklists. More are on the way. 

Martin Tirado, CAE, is chief executive officer of SIMA. Email him at martin@sima.org. 

Symposium shakeup

Education offers more networking, in-depth workshops and roundtables

More networking. More peer-to-peer engagement. More in-depth workshops. More team building. Each of these represents a recurring suggestion of what attendees expect from the Best Show in Snow. SIMA is delivering with a revamped educational lineup for the 21st Annual Snow and Ice Symposium.

This year’s planning committee is shaking things up with new offerings that we believe will make this year’s show the best yet.

Our goal was to expand the education tracks to appeal to a broader audience so that more people will benefit from attending the Symposium. From people with boots on the ground to in the boardroom, our hope is that the changes we’ve implemented will deliver additional value for your investment.

All of the details can be found at www.sima.org/show, but following are a few of the program’s new highlights:

Best Practices Skills Competition. In lieu of a traditional pre-conference event on Tuesday, June 26, we’re encouraging companies to bring their team to take part in a head-to-head competition with other companies. The team-building event will see how well your teams understand industry best practices in safety, operations, calibration and site management.

Workshop Wednesday. Traditionally, the Symposium features one or two deepdive workshops on a targeted topic. This year, we’re dedicating most of Wednesday to eight 2-hour sessions focused on a wider variety of topics. Attendees will be able to choose from two of the eight sessions. Even better? The workshops will be included in your registration fee. This year’s topics:

• Snow Operations Audits
• Equipment and Maintenance Management
• Managing Risk and Liability
• Recruiting, Hiring and Retaining Talent
• Job Costing and Estimating
• Applying Enterprise Risk Management Theory
• Time Management and Productivity

Role-based Roundtables. Following the Wednesday workshops, we’re taking a page from our Season Opener playbook and creating in-depth roundtables focused on specific roles in a snow and ice management company. Attendees will engage with others in similar roles to discuss a variety of topics and trends important to them:

• CEO to CEO
• Operations Management and Techniques
• Billing, Administration and Service Verification
• Sales and Negotiations

Pro Talks - Life and Leadership in the Snow Industry. Once you achieve a certain level of success in snow and ice, many of the traditional educational sessions may be less pertinent, leaving some attendees to wonder: "What’s in it for me?" Patterned after the popular TED talks, we’ve asked six speakers to share insights and captivating stories that will resonate with attendees at every stage of their career, but especially those CEOs, business owners and upper-level managers who are looking for self-improvement and fresh perspectives.

Tech Talks & New Products Pavilion. One of the biggest draws of the Symposium is our trade show. This year, attendees will be exposed to 140,000 square feet of the newest products and services, all focused on snow and ice management. To complement the trade show, we’re adding a new products pavilion that will allow attendees to see the newest products on the market. In addition, we’re bringing education back to the floor with 12 Tech Talks, presented by a supplier with subject matter expertise (non-product specific):

• Sidewalk Management Optimization
• Route Management Technology
• Weather Forecasting and Documentation
• Plow Technology that Optimizes Production and Salt Use
• Spreader Technology that Optimizes Production and Salt Use
• Salt Use Optimization: Implementing Brine & Liquids
• Chloride Alternatives: Solutions to Reduce Reliance on Salt
• Service Verification
• Equipment Maintenance and Repairs
• Small Company Solutions
• Site Engineering Solutions
• Safety & PPE

That’s a lot of change for one year, but don’t worry! Our most popular Symposium events remain: Snack & Chats, networking receptions, the closing event and sessions focused on all areas of operations are returning. I encourage you to take a look at the Symposium brochure and start plotting your path to Cleveland. It’s going to be a great show. We can’t wait to see you!

Visit www.sima.org/show for registration, a schedule of events and more.

Best Practices course delivers free equipment, operations training

'This growing body of resources currently includes 15 documents available exclusively to SIMA members as part of our commitment to deliver outstanding value.'

Even during the season, it doesn’t hurt to review best practices to keep your minds fresh for the next event. SIMA’s Operational Equipment & Safety Best Practices course can help members keep training and safety front and center.

This growing body of resources currently includes 15 documents available exclusively to SIMA members as part of our commitment to deliver outstanding value.

These checklists and quick reference cards can be downloaded, printed and used as part of a comprehensive training program.

Looking toward 2018, our goal is to continue to add resources to this course, allowing our member companies access to free training and topics that will help ensure safer, more efficient operations. 

Current resources available for download:

• Checklists
• Pre-trip plow and spreader safety inspections
• Snow site engineering planning
• Snow vehicle hazards
• Pre-storm equipment review
• Preseason risk assessment
• Snow kit contents
• Quick Cards
• Fuel storage for cold weather
• Safe operations of heavy equipment in cold weather
• PPE for snow and ice management
• Snow shoveling safety
• Snow blower hazards
• Equipment maintenance
• Resources
• Salt brine equipment basics
• Incident report template (English and Spanish)
• Safety best practices
• Snow plow pump troubleshooting

If you have a topic for consideration, email Brian Birch at brian@sima.org. The course is available for download here.

SIMA adds DVDs to training video series

 

Remember 2001? It was a year of many exciting things...Harry Potter, the Segway, the iPod, *NSYNC. And don’t forget...SIMA launched its first training video: Basic Snowplowing Techniques. After the initial success of that video, SIMA produced six more, and they became the de facto industry standard for basic and refresher snow training. But the snow industry has grown and changed. Our videos began to have a certain retro feel and needed a revamp. Instead of trying to redo them one by one over a long period of time, SIMA completely redesigned them all at once. The new SIMA Training Video Series, which includes six videos, was launched in late summer 2017, and includes:

• Snowplowing Safety & Preparation: This video is designed to introduce snowplow operators to basic snowplowing principles and general techniques, including preseason preparations and checks, transporting the plow and general plowing tips and techniques.
• Essential Snowplowing Techniques: This video concentrates on commercial snow removal operations. It assumes the operator has received basic training, knows safety issues and has experience in clearing driveways and other properties. It includes equipment and safety, techniques and obstacles, and plow scenarios.
• NEW! Snow Site Engineering and Planning: This video walks through the process of planning and implementing a site engineering strategy; to increase safety and efficiency; and to identify key obstacles, priorities and hazards prior to the snow season.
• Containment Snow Plows and Pushers: This video provides practical and strategic operations, including benefits of using a containment plow, operator safety and troubleshooting on-site issues.
• Sidewalk Clearing of Snow and Ice: This video highlights key safety issues and techniques needed to use shovels and snow blowers. It includes guidelines for dressing appropriately, health and wellness tips, shoveling techniques, and snowblower safety and techniques.
• Skid Steer Loaders and Compact Equipment: This video covers a range of topics, including site application, attachments, techniques, safety, training and preventive maintenance. Other topics include equipment advantages, common mistakes and tips and bidding help.

Initially, SIMA planned to only offer the videos via streaming in the SIMA Training Center since it is the best, most cost-effective way for us to distribute these training tools. However, after much discussion and feedback from our members, we decided to also provide DVDs. We ran our first press of DVDs (all six videos for one low price) in October, and they are available for purchase now.

Training video series at-a-glance

• Number of training videos 6
• All new video footage, including use of drones
• Residential and commercial items addressed
• Available streaming in the SIMA Training Center, on DVD or both
• Includes simple quizzes for training documentation
• Most videos are available in Spanish
• Average length of each video 30 minutes 

To learn more about each video, to see a preview or to purchase, visit www.sima.org/SnowTraining. 

Workforce work to be done

'Our goal is to keep the conversation going and to help our members make progress in the area of workforce development and retention.'

By Brian Birch, CAE
Here’s what we know about our industry’s workforce: Finding and retaining good employees remains the No. 1 challenge. That’s the official word based on feedback SIMA was able to collect prior to the September 2017 Season Opener. 

Of course, this issue is bigger than just the snow industry; most service-related industries are struggling. As one of thousands of trade associations, SIMA is wrestling with the true impact our association can have on such a widespread issue. We felt the Season Opener, with its focus on recruitment and talent management, was a good place to start.

Prior to the event, SIMA deployed a simple survey designed to solicit feedback in two broad areas:

1. Labor recruitment. How do you recruit labor for snow, and what technologies/tools are useful in that process?
2. Careers. What benefits and areas should be considered in an effort to keep long-term employees, and which of these are the most crucial?

Attendees were also asked to provide any organizational charts, employee pay grades/levels (structure, not compensation) and role descriptions for snow-specific work. After repeated attempts, only one attendee shared that information. This was insightful, since it showed us the challenge is twofold:

1. Many companies struggle with organizing and keeping updated organizational charts, pay grade standards and even role descriptions; 
2. Our members consider this proprietary information and hence are reluctant to share.

During the Season Opener event, more than 50 professionals engaged in peer-to-peer roundtables on labor and careers, sharing of real-world scenarios that have worked and brainstorming ideas for improved attraction and retention of employees. We consolidated the data collected into a final report, which was emailed to all attendees in early October. If you were unable to attend and would like a copy, email Brian@sima.org. 

Potential workforce initiatives
Our goal is to keep the conversation going and to help our members make progress in the area of workforce development and retention. Here are some possible paths SIMA could take. We would love your input. 

1. Snow Compensation & Benefits Report: Many industries provide data-driven averages of compensation levels (salaried and non-salaried), as well as benefits (health care, retirement, etc.) for various job roles. SIMA could work with a third-party entity that specializes in this research to conduct such a study every two to three years.
2. Snow Organizational Charts and Roles/Responsibilities Library: Little research has been done on roles and responsibilities in the industry. SIMA could solicit submissions of organizational charts and roles/responsibilities to build a library that more definitively identifies positions essential to the success of a snow and ice management company. All reported information would be analyzed to find common types of structures, and all reported information would be anonymous. This could be compiled into a report or searchable database for SIMA members. The project could also take the form of a written report with a series of examples, coupled with policies/tips and templates for employee reviews and compensation discussions. 
3. Best Practices in Snow Recruitment: SIMA could work with the Best Practices & Standards Committee to select best-in-class snow companies to create a standardized set of recommendations/policies for labor recruitment, including sources, technologies, drug/background check policies/procedures, and employee referral program policies and administration.
4. Snow Industry Help Wanted/Jobs Board: SIMA could implement an online tool that enables snow professionals to post help wanted/job openings, including connecting contractors to subcontractors. SIMA could partner with industry-related organizations in this area.

We invite you to share your input about which options, if any, would be helpful to you, by emailing Brian@sima.org. 

A year of change and progress

A year ago, SIMA launched a new vision for membership for our customers. We worked hard to listen to the market and to provide more tangible value members joining and renewing their membership each year.

As we approach the one-year anniversary of the revamped membership structure, it’s a good time to update our progress and outline where we hope to go in the future.

We’ve made good inroads toward building resources that add to the value of your SIMA membership, and we remain focused on continuing to do so in 2017-18.

Adding membership value with tools and savings

Training Commitment: $200 annual training commitment for each member organization for use toward ASM or CSP training. 

Results: As of 9/1/2017, over 40 member companies have used this commitment.

Business Operations Tools: SIMA added the Advanced Contract Clauses, created and vetted by a task force of industry stakeholders, as a downloadable document. Along with the template contract, these clauses can help insulate companies from unique situations that snow and ice industry professionals face.
Results: Over 700 people have downloaded contracts/forms since the new launch.

Training: Five members-only courses were created to help your business with key challenges and annual individualized safety training.
Results: By the end of the year, we estimate over 500 people will have completed one or more of these courses.

Looking ahead to 2018
We are looking to invest in technologies to help empower members and suppliers to connect. We will seek to build a more direct connection between our members and their benefits. We will continue to deliver resources, training, and marketing opportunities for snow professionals. We value your input on how we can make SIMA membership a game-changing investment for you.

If you have suggestions on how we can deliver additional value, please email Brian Birch at brian@sima.org. 

Snow Safety Week 2017 Review

Last week, SIMA and sponsors Caterpillar, BOSS Snowplow, and RAM Trucks produced the sixth annual Snow Safety Week. With 2 webinars, numerous articles, and several Facebook live videos, Snow Safety Week was successful in providing quality, helpful information on a variety of safety-related topics.

As we move into the winter season, safety information is timely and very important for all snow professionals to remember. View some of the highlights from Snow Safety Week below:

Webinars
Did you miss a webinar? View the recordings for free! 

Dear Snow Contractor: You are more at risk for slipping and falling than anyone else! View now
SIMA recently surveyed the industry to understand what the most common types of accidents that result in injuries, lost work time, and ultimately workman’s comp claims are. Over 50% of injuries reported were the result of slipping and falling, the very thing the industry is out there trying to help reduce! Walk through the survey results and a job safety analysis of several hazardous scenarios.

Managing the threat of workplace conflict
View now
What happens when two employees don’t get along, and things escalate toward emotional or physical violence? Taking proactive steps in policy, and coaching yourself in dealing with conflict in general, can go a long way to keeping all your employees safe.

Articles
Check out some of the highlights from our Snow Safety Week articles: 

• Identifying areas of pedestrian peril: Learn areas where pedestrians are most likely to slip & fall during winter weather.
• Safety doesn’t have to come at a price: Learn 5 easy and affordable ways to implement training in your snow company.
• Managing conflict in the workplace: Review steps to help you start building a workplace safety program.
• Drug testing policies in snow & ice: Does your company have drug testing programs and policies in place?
• Combatting “safety is for wimps” mindset: Start investing in a people-first safety culture.
• Eliminate distracted driving: Implement a safe driving program to ensure the safety of your employees.
• Sleep debt and its impact on your body: Recognize the impacts of sleep deprivation and tips on how to recoup lost time.
• Employee safety best practices: Download a training sheet to reinforce personal safety in the field.
• To go, or not to go: Long hours without a break can cause health problems you may have not considered.
• Hygiene during heinous storms: Set your team up for success in the field by giving them space and time to recharge.
• Using lockout/tagout concepts: The principles of lockout/tagout offer solid footing for you to train your team on potentially dangerous situations.

Facebook
Check out SIMA's Facebook event page to see video interviews with SIMA members as they discuss safety at their companies.

Visit here to see all the articles from last week, and thank you to everyone who participated and helped create another successful Snow Safety Week!