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HOMEOWNERS ARE LIABLE FOR ICE AND SNOW REMOVAL

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During the winter months, it’s a familiar site to see shopping centers and business owners clearing the ice and snow from pathways, parking lots and entrances. It’s a liability issue should someone slip and fall and injure themselves entering their business. Homeowners also face similar liabilities if they fail to take adequate steps to remove such slippery hazards from their property.

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Homeowners are responsible for limiting dangers on their property, and in some cases, this can also extend to public sidewalks abutting your home. In some localities, governments have given fines for homeowners who fail to clear the ice and snow. County and municipal agencies have written policies directing property owners to remove accumulated ice and snow “within 24 hours of the end of the snowstorm.” Penalties for property owners not complying can range from nominal tickets, to misdemeanours punishable by up to 90 days in jail, to fines of up to $500.

Shovelling snow is simple enough, but ice removal can be a tricky matter. Nothing works better to remove or prevent ice from forming than an Ice Melter containing Sodium Chloride, Salt. Ice Melters lower the water’s freezing point, the temperature at which it changes from a liquid to a solid and vice versa. Melting the ice and snow directly at the pavement is the most effective way to clear off the surface. This process, preventing water from freezing in the first place, is called anti-icing. It is best achieved by putting the Ice Melter down on the sidewalk when a freeze or a snowfall is expected. In contrast, melting water already frozen is called deicing and in this case an Ice Melter is applied once ice appears. It still works, but is less efficient than anti-icing.

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Laws regarding ice and snow clearing vary by region and from locality to locality, but most mandate some action must be taken within a reasonable time period, often 24 hours after it stops snowing.

 

Contact Kissner Milling Company Ltd. today for all of your Ice Melter needs.

148 Manitou Drive, Suite 301, Kitchener, ON N2C 1L3

Phone: 1-800-434-8248 | Fax: 1-877-434-8250

Email: info@kissner.com

Website: www.kissner.com

How Salt Can Keep You Safe

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Sodium Chloride (salt) is a major player in walkway safety. The Ice and snow build-up can cause dangerous safety conditions to your foot traffic area when it goes unchecked. Tens of thousands of Canadians slip on ice each year. Many of these slips are relatively inconsequential. However, slipping on ice can be more than an inconvenience. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information; a study showed that over the past five years Canadians have been hospitalized between 5,312 and 9,121 times annually, due to slipping on ice.

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Safety Starts with Salt

When uncomfortable cold winter weather conditions make for treacherous outside travel, salt can help. Using salt to maintain walkways and parking lots in response to winter snow and ice events will contribute to a dramatic reduction in slipping on ice.

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Kissner Milling Co. Ltd. is committed to providing winter safety across North America, and continues to pursue that goal by supporting sensible salting. Established over 130 years ago, Kissner Milling Co. Ltd. has evolved to become a trusted market leader known for providing reliable service to an impressive list of clientele throughout North America. We have the experience and resources to be your top supplier.

How Does Salt Work?

Studies show that implementing winter maintenance programs that consist of salt usage can help clear the way for safer winter foot travel. Salting your walkways and parking lots before a storm forms a layer of brine on the pavement, greatly decreasing the formation of ice on the surface.
Pre-treating allows home and business owners to use less salt and it also makes it easier to shovel the snow off of the surfaces safely since the snow is not frozen to the pavement.Applying salt after a winter storm can be beneficial as well if all the slush is not cleared. If there is water on the walkways there could be a chance of that water re-freezing.

This is how salt helps keep walkways clear and safer for travel so that you can keep moving despite the freeze.

Contact Kissner Milling Company Ltd. today for all of your Ice Melter needs.

148 Manitou Drive, Suite 301, Kitchener, ON N2C 1L3

Phone: 1-800-434-8248 | Fax: 1-877-434-8250

Email: info@kissner.com

Website: www.kissner.com

Protect Your Pets

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Ice melters are fairly safe towards pets, but a few precautions should be taken to protect your pets…

Ice Melter Ingestion Dangers
Animals like to eat salt; it is always a good idea to prevent pets from licking ice melter granules. Keep them indoors while ice melter is applied.

Don’t let your dog lick ice melt or drink from puddles when they are outside. Even very limited amounts of 100 percent sodium chloride can be lethal to dogs. Purchase an ice melt with colored pellets or granules to make it easier to identify in the snow.

Some of the symptoms seen in animals after the ingestion of ice melter granules and residues are; drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite, disorientation and increased water consumption.

While it is unlikely for pets to consume a large enough amount of ice melter that would lead to poisoning, that does not eliminate the small chance that pets can be adversely affected by the presence of such chemicals. According to the ASPCA-APCC, consumption of excessive amounts of ice melter by an animal may result in; low blood pressure, decreased muscle function, cardiac abnormalities, seizures, coma or even death.

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Pets Have Sensitive Paws
Pets such as dogs and cats are generally more sensitive to the colder winter weather. They might have a sufficient coat of fur to keep their bodies warm, but the drying and stinging effects of ice and snow may have a negative effect on their delicate paws. Likewise the salt and certain chemicals included in various ice melters can also cause irritation to these sensitive areas.

Always wipe your dog’s paws with a moist towel after walking outside on snowy days. Also, trim the hair between the dog’s toes to reduce mineral collection, or put doggie booties on all four paws as extra protection.

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Pet Safe Ice Melt Benefits
Pet safe ice melt products can help reduce any harmful effects to animals and the environment. A pet safe ice melter will not irritate and dry out your pet’s paws and is less harmful if accidentally swallowed. Using pet safe ice melters will help ensure that your pets are protected from the harmful effects of non-pet friendly ice melter blends.

Please observe the following precautions for the safety of your pets:

  • Keep pets indoors while ice melter is applied
  • Avoid taking pets on long walks during the winter
  • Restrain pets from haphazardly running and jumping on piles of ice or snow
  • If going outdoors for long periods of time is unavoidable, have your pets wear boots
  • Keep a rag or towel near the door and wipe ice melter residue from their paws

Contact Kissner Milling Company Ltd. today for all of your Ice Melter needs.

148 Manitou Drive, Suite 301, Kitchener, ON N2C 1L3

Phone: 1-800-434-8248 | Fax: 1-877-434-8250

Email: info@kissner.com

Website: www.kissner.com