Groundskeepers weather intense Mich. storms
Andy Buss
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: News
Grounds workers noted a decrease in ice-related accidents as well as cleaner college facilities because of the extra brush they're giving sidewalks this year.
Grounds crewmember Kevin Nichols, 45, has worked for the school for four years. He said he and his co-workers keep a clear objective in mind during the harsh winters.
"That's our main goal," he said. "To keep it safe for everybody."
With the unusually large amount of snow accumulating in Hillsdale this winter, Grounds Supervisor Phil Tracy said some days workers have done a bit of accumulating themselves - in work hours.
"Our normal workday is 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.," he said. "But depending on quantity of snow, we might start as early as 4 a.m. - maybe even earlier. Then we work our normal day after that."
Vice President of Administration Rich Péwé said the college tries to cut down on discretionary overtime, but when winter weather forces workers to arrive at work early it's a bullet the college bites.
With three men operating brushes on the sidewalks and four others driving plows, the crew keeps everything monitored and under control without prioritizing.
The exception is the Roche Sports Complex. Tracy said since walkers begin working out there as early as 6 a.m., the crew tries to clear that area first.
The less snow on the walkways, the less messy the floors and hallways on campus become. This lightens the load on the school's custodial staff - a staff that Superintendent of Custodial Servies Vicky Phetteplace could not be more pleased with.
"The custodial employees are terrific," she said. "They do a phenomenal job of keeping up with the tracking with the snow and melting and salt."
During the school year 2007-2008, several slip-and-falls occurred.
Grounds workers reported a decrease in winter-related accidents this school year.
Tracy said he cannot put a sure finger on the reason for the decline in accidents.
"I don't know why," he said. "There does seem to be a lot less. We're not really doing anything differently - except we have added an extra brush with the addition of the new quad.
As far as what kind of products we are using, they are basically the same."
Both Phetteplace and Péwé echoed Tracy's claim of fewer snow-related bumps and bruises on campus this year. They also warned those around the college to wear proper footwear and be cautious.
Grounds crewmember Kevin Nichols, 45, has worked for the school for four years. He said he and his co-workers keep a clear objective in mind during the harsh winters.
"That's our main goal," he said. "To keep it safe for everybody."
With the unusually large amount of snow accumulating in Hillsdale this winter, Grounds Supervisor Phil Tracy said some days workers have done a bit of accumulating themselves - in work hours.
"Our normal workday is 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.," he said. "But depending on quantity of snow, we might start as early as 4 a.m. - maybe even earlier. Then we work our normal day after that."
Vice President of Administration Rich Péwé said the college tries to cut down on discretionary overtime, but when winter weather forces workers to arrive at work early it's a bullet the college bites.
With three men operating brushes on the sidewalks and four others driving plows, the crew keeps everything monitored and under control without prioritizing.
The exception is the Roche Sports Complex. Tracy said since walkers begin working out there as early as 6 a.m., the crew tries to clear that area first.
The less snow on the walkways, the less messy the floors and hallways on campus become. This lightens the load on the school's custodial staff - a staff that Superintendent of Custodial Servies Vicky Phetteplace could not be more pleased with.
"The custodial employees are terrific," she said. "They do a phenomenal job of keeping up with the tracking with the snow and melting and salt."
During the school year 2007-2008, several slip-and-falls occurred.
Grounds workers reported a decrease in winter-related accidents this school year.
Tracy said he cannot put a sure finger on the reason for the decline in accidents.
"I don't know why," he said. "There does seem to be a lot less. We're not really doing anything differently - except we have added an extra brush with the addition of the new quad.
As far as what kind of products we are using, they are basically the same."
Both Phetteplace and Péwé echoed Tracy's claim of fewer snow-related bumps and bruises on campus this year. They also warned those around the college to wear proper footwear and be cautious.
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