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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2017)
18 Wednesday, November 15, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon WINTER: Get an early jump on dealing with snow Continued from page 3 roof to shovel with the first heavy snowfall. Don’t rely on chemicals. “ T h o s e m a g n e s i u m discs you throw on the roof are pretty useless,” Ryan says. “The only thing you can really do is physically remove the snow from your roof, either with a shovel or with one of those rakes which work really well.” Bruce Merrell of Laredo Construction advises that “if you’re going to rake the roof, you’ve got to go all the way up to the ridge.” Just raking up a few feet won’t do Merrell says — it just sets up ice damming in different spots. Pay special attention to valleys where low-pitched sections of roof come together. Ryan emphasizes that anyone you hire to do snow removal should be insured and carry workers’ compen- sation insurance. Last win- ter, many people had people working on their roofs who were not professionals and had no coverage — which is a very risky scenario. Many Sisters folks leave for the winter. Ryan recom- mends turning the heat off so that it doesn’t heat the roof, melting snow and encourag- ing ice dams. “People who leave for the PHOTO BY KAREN KASSY Mitch Mansfield, of Sisters Olive & Nut Co., shovels snow in front of his store during the first real snowfall of the season on Thursday, November 9. winter and leave the heat on are a problem,” Ryan says. M e r r e l l r e c o m m e n d s leaving the temperature at 55 degrees to avoid freezing pipes, especially for people who are leaving and returning through the winter. “You’ve got to be con- cerned about your water lines. It’s best if you can drain down the system,” he says. Merrell also emphasizes that it’s critical to plug all of your air vents with foam to prevent frigid air from cir- culating into the house and freezing water in pipes. Keep your decks and walkways clear, too. Jump on them early and stay on top of them to avoid — or at least mitigate — the difficulties of clearing mass accumulation. It’s a very good idea to tap a local contractor to do a pre-winter inspection of your home, to help you identify potential problem areas and recommend fixes. They can help you get ahead of Old Man Winter before he really sinks his claws into Sisters Country. Find your way... PHOTO BY JIM CORNELIUS A handsome new map kiosk at Barclay Park offers visitors an overview of downtown Sisters. Remind locals & visitors why shopping in Sisters matters Be prepared for winter dangers at work Sisters businesses need to be just as well-prepared as homeowners for winter’s wrath. Winter can be down- right dangerous for workers and customers alike. Sisters businesses are required to keep walkways cleared of snow and parking areas accessible. It’s always best to jump on that chore early to avoid fighting mass accu- mulation. And it’s a good idea to assess potential dan- ger areas, especially those that pose the threat of slips and falls. “Last year we saw more than 1,400 slips, trips, and falls related to snow and ice — more than any win- ter in recent memory,” said Scott Brown, senior safety management consultant at SAIF, Oregon’s not-for- profit workers compensation insurer. “It’s critical to take a few steps now to avoid slips later; we don’t want another year of record-breaking injuries.” Brown offered precau- tions companies can take now to prevent slips, trips, and falls this winter: • Check last year’s inci- dent reports to see where most slipping accidents occurred and take corrective measures to eliminate hazards. • Pay special attention to areas where transpar- ent “black ice” can form, including walkways shaded by trees, buildings, or other structures. Look for partially covered walkways or park- ing stairwells where precipi- tation might blow in. • Plan ahead to have ice- melt granules distributed to hazard-prone areas. To learn more, read the Consumer Reports guide, including “5 steps for better deicing.” • Ensure lighting is ade- quate on walkways, stair- wells, parking lots, and other areas where slips might occur. • Consider making foot/ heel traction devices avail- able to staff who frequently work in areas where snow and ice are prevalent. • If your organization allows telecommuting, encourage staff to work from home when extreme condi- tions are expected, to mini- mize risk for slips, motor vehicle accidents, and other weather-related dangers. • Raise awareness about the importance of proper footwear and safe win- ter walking (walk like a penguin). Small Business Saturday happens across the United States on the Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 25, 2017) It’s also the day of the Old-fashioned Christmas Parade, bringing several thousand people to Sisters. “Shop Local” is something people want to support, because it returns an average of three times more money to a community. Advertise your business in The Nugget Newspaper’s November 22 issue to encourage Thanksgiving, Christmas Tree Lighting, and Parade visitors — as well as local residents — to Shop Local at your Sisters business. Call Karen at 541-549-9941 and she’ll help you with your ad. It’s easy, and professional design is free!
