Toronto and its surrounding areas are seeing mountains of snow this week, with some parts of the city getting as much as 20 cm with more to come this weekend. For most, the time is now to dig out the shovels and get to work on clearing driveways and walkways.
Here are some tips to stay safe while still remaining efficient as you trudge through.
What’s the best technique for shovelling?
Keep your feet wide apart while shovelling and turn your feet and body in the direction you’re throwing or pushing the snow, recommends the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).
Pushing the snow rather than lifting it is better for safety, the City of Toronto advises.
It’s also worth doing a short warm-up to loosen and prepare muscles for the job ahead.
As the adage goes, the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. In the case of heavy snowfall, shove only small amounts of snow at a time, the city recommends.
Don’t bend at the waist while shovelling snow and never throw snow over your shoulder, since it requires “a twisting motion that stresses your back,” the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons advises.
When should you start shovelling?
Whenever possible, it’s better to shovel earlier in the day, since new snow is lighter than partially melted snow or snow that has settled and been packed or patted down.
When you do get started, the most efficient rate of shovelling is between 18 and 21 scoops per minute, per CCOHS, but if you’re shovelling continuously, the “recommended rate” is around 15 scoops per minute.
When should you stop shovelling?
It’s best to take a short break, two-minute break for every five minutes of shovelling, the city says.
Since shovelling is a strenuous activity that can be stressful on the heart, seniors, those who do not exercise regularly or anyone with medical conditions should proceed with caution. In extreme conditions, the CCOHS says, 15 minutes of shovelling should be followed by 15 minutes of rest.
“Safety is more important than speed,” says the Mayo Clinic, so listen to your body and pace yourself.
How far should I throw the snow I’m shovelling?
Though pushing snow is recommended over throwing, CCOHS notes that throw height should “not exceed 1.3 meters” (or about four feet), while the “optimal throw distance” is just under one meter.
If you must throw snow to get it over a bank or clear it away from walkways or driveways, don’t twist or turn and instead throw “straight at the snow pile,” the Ontario Chiropractic Association advises.
