Archive

Holiday Safety: Tip No. 13

Dec. 17, 1999

How to avoid serious injury when shoveling snow this winter.

If you plan to clear your walkways and driveways of snow so guests can easily get to your holiday party, consider the dangers. Snow may look puffy and light, but anyone who has shoveled will tell you that it's hard work.

Some experts say that shoveling snow is as strenuous as running nine miles an hour. Any exercise that strenuous can put a strain on your body.

While snow shoveling may never be fun, The Physician and Sports Medicine guide offers these tips to help you to do it safely.

Warm up your muscles. Do a few stretching exercises so that the work doesn't come as a shock to your system.
Clear snow when it stops falling. Freshly fallen snow that has melted slightly and become more heavy and dense.
Bend at the knee as you scoop the snow to reduce strain on your back and heart.
Avoid twisting and bending your body as you shovel.
Push snow out of the way when possible. It's less strenuous to push snow than to throw it with a shovel.
Do not eat, drink or smoke before shoveling. All of these put strain on your heart.

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor: Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.