Snow Removal Standards Documents

Recent Members

Our Snow Removal Standards Committee was formed in 2021 when many years of discussion regarding the challenges faced by contractors turned into viable solutions that a dedicated group of industry experts could work to improve.

Over multiple meetings with a variety of our contractor members, we came up with the following ideas to assist members:

Present our members with an offering of best practices i.e., Snow Standards, Snow Log checklist, Sanding Log Checklist, Sidewalk Log Checklist, and general contracts that can be utilized in order to limit snow contractors’ liability and indemnification by service to the recipient.
Partnering with a legal firm that works with the Association, who can offer legal advice, contracts, and litigation services on behalf of members. We are in the process of discussing this matter with different legal firms who would familiarize themself specifically with liabilities snow contractors face. By having a legal firm work on behalf of our HEAT members they will be able to assist as follows:
- Responding to demands and/or notices of claim of third parties – subject to requirements of your insurer and potential conflicts of interest
- Coordinating with service recipient re: indemnification obligations and/or allocation of responsibility
- Liaising with insurer (as applicable, and only if agreed upon)
Partnering with an independent adjuster who is willing to join our Association to be the adjuster of choice for any claims that arise. We are currently in discussions to make this an option for members. This adjuster could be used for any in-house claims that would arise whereas incurred costs will or could be lower than the deductible and therefore the contractor is self-insuring risk.
To pass a bill amending the Manitoba Occupier’s Liability Act by adding a timeline as to when a third-party claimant can report an incident. This will be a similar if not the same bill that was passed in Ontario last year – Bill 118 – to change legislation in Manitoba to classify snow removal equipment as emergency vehicles, allowing equipment to complete their work safely and efficiently.

To change legislation in Manitoba to classify snow removal equipment as emergency vehicles, allowing equipment to complete their work safely and efficiently.

We have partnered with 1Life Safety Software Solutions to have all of our snow removal standards resources available on their mobile web app for ease of use for your operators. Click here to learn more about the discounts and resources available to you through 1Life Safety Software Solutions ( link to be provided )

Indemnification Rider

The indemnification rider should be used as a supplement to any services agreement proposed by service recipients to limit contractor liability and indemnification in service recipients in circumstances where loss does not result from contractor wrongdoing.

The Rider contract is to be used for owners’ contracts i.e., parking lot contracts, that should be reviewed prior to signing. We recommend your insurance broker, or lawyer, should review the legal and insurance requirements of the owner’s contract and advise if the rider should be sent to the owner based on indemnity requirements of the contract.

Indemnification Rider

The General Contract should be used for any work performed on behalf of any customer of the contractor who does not provide them with a contract and scope of work, this would provide indemnity for both parties. A sub-contractor agreement should also be in place to govern the relationship between a contractor and any subcontractors they engage to ultimately provide clearing services.

Below are the links to some Logs/Best Practices that can be utilized by members as they see necessary:

Snow Removal Best Business Practices , this document could be utilized and reviewed internally with your team, to be accepted and followed by management and operators when providing snow services by your company or used as a template to follow and re-create according to your company business practice in respect to snow operations. The attached are suggestions being offered by our snow committee only, and not to be taken as an actual requirement to be used within the scope of work of snow services.

All of the above documents are available to be utilized by HEAT Members and should be kept on record to be reviewed on an annual basis.

These documents can also be used in discussion with your insurance broker for insurance marketing processes.

HEAT recommends that your insurance broker read and approve any contracts that you sign to be sure that you have appropriately protected yourself.

Please note that you must be logged in with your username and password to view the documents being provided. As we continue to work on your behalf, you may see additional documents added. In addition, we would like to thank BFL Canada Insurance Services Inc. for their financial support of these initiatives.

For more information you can reach out to our Snow Removal Standards Committee through our office at memberservices@heatmb.ca

We encourage any members who are interested in pursuing change and lowering insurance costs for members to join our Snow Removal Standards Committee and participate in the virtual and in person meetings organized for members. For more information on how you can become a part of the solution, please reach out to our office at memberservices@heatmb.ca