Western State Colorado University Snow Removal The purpose of the Campus Snow Removal Information is to educate the campus, community as to the standard operating procedures used in the control of winter snow conditions at WSCU. The intent of the this document is to establish and provide a uniform understanding of the priorities and procedures used to combat snow and ice related conditions on campus sidewalks, parking lots and roads. Snow/Ice Removal Mission Statement It is the mission of Facilities Services to provide effective snow removal, with the personnel and equipment available, in an effort to maintain access to all campus buildings and provide safe pedestrian walkways to all buildings and parking lots and to provide adequate parking areas for staff student and visitor commuter traffic. SNOW CREW CALL IN SHEET Security Crew contacts Manager, Loren White with the approx. inches of snow @ (970) 901-2349 / (970) 596-4630. Dusting to 1 4:30AM call time 1 to 2 3:30AM call time 2 to 3 3:30AM call time 6 and over 1:30AM call time Manager, Loren White calls out crew after security lets him know the amount of snow that has fallen to determine times to start. All snow removal is completed approx. 6:30AM depending on the amount of and continuing snow. Last update 2016
Plow Crew: (Manager)Loren White: (970) 901-2349 / (970) 596-4630 Josh Sohn: (970) 765-6206 Josh Fenti: (719) 207-8939 Floyd Piaz: (970) 641-1311 Temporary Employee The Crew/WSCU Community reports any of the following to Manager to determine the proper order of protocol, (work order). Manager will determine who to contact to resolve issues. A. Parking issues: (Security) B. Overnight Parking: (Security) C. Towing: (Security) D. University Owned Vehicles: (Transportation Dept.) E. Abandon Vehicles: (Security) F. Front Row University Center Parking: (Security) G. Icy Conditions that need Attention (Grounds Manager) 3/8 inch Washed Rock and Traction Sand: Barriers to Block Ice from Falling on Paths: (Work Order) Last update 2016
Snowfall Amount ½ to 1 Time Needed 3:30AM Designated Employee Floyd Paiz Josh Fenti Temp Employee Phone Number of Employee Priority due to the Snow Amount (970) 641-1311 (719) 207-8939 Sidewalks 1" to 2" 3:30AM Loren White Josh Sohn (970) 901-2349/(970) 596-4630 641-0724 Parking lots and streets 2"to 3" 2:30AM Floyd Paiz Josh Fenti Loren White Josh Sohn Floyd Paiz Josh Fenti (970) 641-1311 (719) 497-0724 (970) 901-2349/(970) 596-4630 (970) 765-6806 (970) 641-1311 (719)497-0724 Sidewalks Parking Lots: 1. Bldgs. 2. Housing Sidewalks 6 or More 1:30AM Floyd Paiz Josh Fenti (970)641-1311 (719)497-0724 Parking Lots: 1. Bldgs. 2. Housing Custodial staff assigned to each building are responsible for snow removal from entryway to 20 feet out. Last update 2016
Order of Snow Removal: With least amount of snowfall (1/2-1"), sidewalks and entryways are first focus. o Priority - A l l Handicap As snowfall increases, the entire crew is utilized. The initial crew continues its focus on sidewalks, split the campus in half and focus on all parking lots first and then housing. Escalante Drive Gym, Field House, University Center, Library Borick, Taylor, Hurst, Quigley, Aspinal Housing
Custodians maintain all entryways to their assigned buildings out 20ft. Vehicles Used: Dump truck with plow - parking lots and roads. Half ton truck with plow - parking lots and roads. White flatbed truck with plow and sander - parking lots, roads, & Escalante Dr. Dodge Dakota with plow - parking lots, roads and sidewalks. Two Chevy Colorado s- sidewalks. Tool cat- sidewalks & sander for sidewalks. F350-with Plow- Parking lots F550 with Plow- Parking lots Backhoe -for emergency Note: WSCU has backup equipment in case of equipment failure.
Personnel and Equipment: Facilities Services Grounds Crew is currently staffed with four (4) FTE personnel a n d o n e t e m p o r a r y e m p l o y e e who do the majority of snow removal on campus. Other staff members are utilized as back-up staff for plowing in the event of a major winter storm. The department also uses s tudents on a callout procedure to assist in snow removal around the building entryways. Weather conditions and snow amount determine equipment used. Adjustments in both equipment and personnel are often times made during the winter storm to most effectively manage the conditions. Dump truck with plow - parking lots and roads. Half ton truck with plow - parking lots and roads. White flatbed truck with plow and sander - parking lots, roads, & Escalante Dr. Dodge Dakota with plow - parking lots, roads and sidewalks. Two Chevy Colorado s - sidewalks. Tool cat- sidewalks & sander for sidewalks. F350 with Plow- Parking lots F550 with Plow- Parking lots Backhoe -for emergency As the grounds crew consists of four employees and one temp, each is assigned to a different area of campus as priority dictates. In any snow removal procedure, sidewalks, parking lots a n d A D A p a r k i n g s p o t s are first opened up by making initial passes to allow general access. The crew will later backtrack and make efforts to widen and clear walks and lots. Snow Control: Campus consists of several snow removal areas, which include emergency fire lanes, building access points, sidewalks, roads and parking lots. The priority in maintaining these areas is as follows:
1. Fire lanes and emergency access to all buildings on campus and all handicap access areas. This is critical to assure access to emergency vehicles in the event of a fire or medical emergency. 2. Main walkway entries to the academic buildings. This allows main access to buildings for students, staff and campus safety. All sideways are plowed to the turf areas, and then we are to go back in with a 8ft. blower and blow the wind rows into the turf Areas 3. Main sidewalks around the residence halls. All sideways are plowed to the turf areas, and then we are to go back in with a 8ft. blower and blow the windrows into the turf areas 4. Parking lots and campus roads. Access roads leading to parking lots will be done first with the academic /state lots next. Resident hall lots will be done as time permits. Snow is stock piled into planter or turf areas. If snow becomes too much WSCU is to remove the over flow to a designated area. 5. Secondary walks and connecting routes. These areas will be opened after all other priority access is opened. Special efforts will be made to accommodate those persons with special needs or disabilities. If a major winter storm should occur on a holiday or times the campus is officially closed, only emergency vehicle access and the main entry walks of occupied Residence Halls are cleared. Areas around buildings with special events will be monitored and kept open as much as possible. Facilities Services uses a callout lists for employees to assist in snow removal. Employees are called back on an as-needed basis and kept as long as necessary. Parking Lots: 1. Parking lots will be plowed with the priority of Taylor, Library, Hurst, Quigley, Borick, Aspinall, Gym, Field House, University Center, lots first and resident hall student parking as a secondary. It must be understood that parking lots with vehicles parked in them make it very difficult to do an adequate job in snow removal. Efforts will be first made to open areas with no vehicle traffic to make room for in-coming vehicles. If the surface in the parking lots becomes slippery and determined a safety hazard, sand/salt will be spread in the main driving lanes and lot entrances. During parking lot snow removal, it may become necessary for staff and students to park in an alternative lot other than the one they normally park in until all lots are cleared and available. Snow is stock piled into planter or turf areas. If snow becomes too much WSCU is to remove the over flow to a designated area.
Sidewalks: Every effort will be made to maintain all sidewalks for safe pedestrian foot traffic. During regular staff hours, Custodial staff is responsible for snow/ice control at each entryway to the Campus Buildings. Their responsibility is to maintain the walkways 20 feet from entryways to where the grounds vehicles can maintain the rest. All sidewalks are plowed to the turf areas, and then we are to go back in with an 8ft. blower and blow the wind rows into the turf Areas Snow Hauling/Disposal: As snow banks build up around the parking lots, sidewalks and entrances, the grounds crew will remove necessary snow and haul to a snow dump. This is done to provide adequate parking in lots, assure visibility for pedestrians and vehicles, to make room for more snow and to control flooding problems when snow and ice melt. Products and Their Uses: WSCU uses a salt /sand product (calcium chloride) to control ice and slippery conditions and to assist in breaking up compacted snow. The salt product will be used on sidewalks, roadways and parking lots. New products on the market are analyzed and tested to see if they meet the needs of the campus. A gravel I salt mix will be used on streets and parking lots to control slippery conditions for both vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The sand/salt mix may need to be used on sidewalks to maintain safe pedestrian traffic. The grounds crew personnel make every effort to minimize the use of any chemical or product for snow/ice control while at the same time maintaining proper safe surface conditions. Information /Feedback/ Complaints: Facilities Management is always receptive to feedback on snow/ice removal activities. For reporting immediate concerns of slippery or other unsafe conditions, call ext. 3087. Please report, in detail, the location, the problem (icy, snow covered, slippery, etc.) or any other information for the crew to easily find the area. While we make every effort to keep all areas safe, always be cautious in winter conditions. Campus Facts: Sidewalks- the campus consists of approximately 3.5 miles of walkways to maintain. Parking lots - the campus consists of approximately 13 acres of parking lots to plow and remove snow. Traffic - the snow removal crew often times has to work around 2700 students and staff pedestrian traffic and approximate 1,500 vehicles traveling in and around the campus.