The best commercial snow shovel will prevent injuries that cost you both time and money, and cause a great deal of pain for your employees.
Picture it this way…
It's the start of a major snow event.
You get a call: "Hey, boss. Joe was using that old snow shovel and he threw his back out."
Joe is lying in the snow on a client's driveway, groaning.
The whole crew is at a standstill, not getting any work done as they try to take care of Joe.
The problem isn't Joe - he's a good worker, he's smart, and he's well trained. The problem is your snow equipment. It needs an upgrade.
Here's how to pick the best commercial snow shovel for your business:
You visit a construction site, and you notice something funny about the working cars driving around the lot.
Instead of cranes and pickups, the Contractors are driving a fleet of Honda Civics.
See what's wrong with this picture?
Snow shovels are the same.
Just because a shovel is passable for a homeowner to shovel their drive once a week doesn’t mean that it’ll work for your crews’ needs 10 or 12 or 14 hours a day during a snow event.
The right shovel is one that limits the impact on your employees’ bodies. Shoveling for hours is intense work. Even with good form, it's hard on your back.
Snow shovels are designed with this in mind: they have ergonomic handles and are made of lightweight materials.
Better design (curved handles, lightweight materials) are more expensive. However, they will improve your employees’ well-being AND your profitability.
When your employees use a better shovel, they avoid a lot of the strain on their back. That means they can work harder, longer.
Also, a great snow shovel will prevent your employees from quitting due to back problems.
There’s an extensive write-up (complete with links to academic research into the ergonomics of shoveling for snow nerds to dive into) on TheSweetHome that justifies the following recommendations:
True Temper’s 18” Ergonomic Mountain Mover - The handle is metal, curved and features an oversized D-Grip for gloved hands.
The blade is plastic with a nylon strip; it starts flat for pushing and falls into a scoop for, well, scooping. The shovel is decently light at 3lbs.
Bully Tools’ 22” Combination Snow Shovel - The handle is fiberglass, straight (but extra long) and features a D-Grip.
The blade is plastic and definitely lends itself to pushing, rather than scooping. It lacks any leading edge, but TheSweetHome’s extensive testing found the shovel to be exceptionally durable even without one.
It’s heavier than the True Temper at 3.6 pounds but if you need to replace a shovel midseason, these will be easier to locate than the True Tempers.
Bully Tools’ 92813 Snow Pusher - The handle is fiberglass, straight (again, extra long) and features a D-Grip.
It has a 27” plastic blade with no leading edge. It weighs 4.85 pounds but that’s less of a factor with a pushing shovel (you’re not lifting it as often).
Expect to spend around $30 per shovel. Don’t balk at the cost right away, consider the cost-benefits of a more efficient, less strained crew. Happy employees are faster employees. Faster employees are more profitable employees.
You can purchase an additional handle for high-usage shovels. It may not be necessary for powder, but with heavy, wet snow you may find it a lifesaver.
Hardware stores sell bolt-on assist handles that go midway down the shovel handle.
They keep you closer to upright which reduces back strain. TheSweetHome’s analysis recommended TrentCo’s ProHandle as the most durable solution.
It’s designed for straight-handled shovels but fits on the True Temper curved handle recommended above. They go for about $20, though you may be able to find cheaper alternatives.
Commercial snow shovels are the foundation of your snow business.
You can walk around in anything, you can even walk around barefoot even if it’s not the best option.
But sometimes you need work boots with steel-toes to get the job done correctly and safely.
Choosing the right shovel, one designed with ergonomics and ease of use in mind is like lacing up the right pair of boots in the morning before a long day’s work.
If you wear the wrong shoes, maybe ones that aren’t waterproofed or have poor arch support, you’re going to be miserable by the end of a snowy work day.
Likewise, if you use the wrong shovel, you’re going to be just as miserable and may end up with long-term damage.
Now, you can use this guide to get out there and find the best commercial snow shovel for your business today!
Related: How to Find the Right Plow for Your Snow Removal Company
Originally published Sept 5, 2017 4:14 PM, updated Nov 2, 2020 11:58 AM
Tags: Business Operation