The beauty of snow is one of the silver linings of cold winters in the northern U.S., but with sleet and ice added in, it may be a time when facilities managers put in more work.
Snowfall may even sneak up on you in unexpected locales like it did on the Gulf Coast in January. Would you rather keep an eye on the radar and handle salting, shoveling, blowing, and plowing yourself for your property? Or, is it worth hiring a third-party snow removal company?
In this article, we’ll weigh the pros and cons for facilities managers.
Pros
It might seem obvious that getting someone else to salt walkways, scrape away at the ice, and lift dense snow is a great way to save the backs of facilities managers, but there may be more incentives to hire third-party companies than you’d think.
Safety
If you or your staff have physical limitations or are older, calling in a professional snow removal company could be a game-changer. Not only is it easy to hurt your back during these tasks, but you are also opening up the possibility of an expensive workers’ compensation case if someone slips or falls on the job. Corey Welch, founder and CEO of Mow & Snow Technologies, offered a precautionary warning: “Two years ago, I tore my ACL on a snow removal job just from the smallest slip!”
Not taking reasonable care of the winter conditions on your property could also put you at fault for negligence in a court case. Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that tens of thousands of work-related injuries involve ice, sleet, or snow each year.
Accessibility
In addition to the safety of your facilities management staff, it’s important to note that failure to remove snow and ice around your property impacts the way people with disabilities can access your facility. People with physical barriers or balance issues who use aids like wheelchairs, crutches, or walkers may be at a greater risk of falling or may decide not to access facilities at all during wintry conditions, which could impact their ability to seek healthcare, get to their jobs, or go shopping.
Time-Saving & Convenience
Using a third-party snow removal company is also useful if you can’t afford overtime hours to handle snowfall or freezing conditions as they occur. Welch noted that certain states and cities have bylaws that dictate how quickly snow or ice should be cleared from sidewalks and where excess snow or ice should be left once it’s moved.
Using professional services can help facilities avoid fines and encourage morale among facilities management staff who are juggling other responsibilities, don’t want to be beholden to the forecast, and maintain properties around the clock. Hiring someone else to do the job also frees up time for other tasks.
Lastly, working with a third-party company means that the provider has the right equipment to do the job and fronts the overhead costs of buying, maintaining, and storing snow removal equipment.
Cons
The pros of outsourcing snow removal seem enticing, so what more negative aspects are there to consider?
Cost
Some facilities managers admit that the cost of using a third-party snow removal company is the steepest barrier for organizations that need extra hands in the winter.
Gene Caballero, co-founder of GreenPal, which is described as the “Uber” for lawn care and snow removal, agreed. He said that especially during a heavy snow season, costs can add up. He suggested for facilities managers with smaller areas that need clearing and for lighter snowfalls, to instead invest in a quality snow blower. Ultimately, he said, ”To decide, weigh the cost against your time and resources.”
Opaque Pricing Models
One of the biggest red flags to be mindful of when choosing a snow removal provider is unclear pricing or subscription models. Welch said that subscription models can waste money during milder winters or have cookie-cutter pricing with removal capping that might not fit your needs. He recommended looking for flexible pricing structures, such as pay-per-service, to only pay for work that’s actually completed.
According to Angi, the website and app that helps people find local home service professionals, snow removal costs depend on a variety of factors, from the frequency of service, the geographical location, location and size of the area that needs plowing or removing, the time it will take for laborers, and the kind of equipment they’ll need.
Operational Inefficiencies
If your facility is smaller than others serviced by your third-party provider in the area or you pay less, Welch warned that your facility may be deprioritized for snow removal, and servicers may not be able to meet the scheduling requirements of local bylaws as they balance the needs of their other customers.
“The snow removal industry hasn’t fully embraced tech, making billing and job tracking confusing and frustrating,” Welch said, adding that his company incorporates an app for customers that allows for scheduling, job tracking, and communication between customers and the business.
Potential for Property Damage
The last possibility that may deter facilities from using a third-party snow removal company is the potential for property damage. Companies may use tractors or plows that are too heavy-duty for your facility’s driveways, curbs, or landscaping, crumble or crush the grounds of your facility—or even employ workers who don’t take enough precautions when maintaining the quality of your areas.
So, as a facilities manager, should you handle snow removal in-house or outsource the work to a third-party provider? There are both pros and cons to consider, and the answer may be dependent on several factors. Ultimately, weigh your options and make the decision that’s best for you, your team, and your organization.
Ali Hickerson is a freelance journalist, content writer, and strategist based in Brooklyn, N.Y. Outside of Facilities Management Advisor, Ali’s recent bylines on health and workplace issues have crisscrossed the country and helped advocate for programs and policies that work to create a healthier, more humane, and equitable world.
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