Winter Safety Tips

ATCO Gas is committed to the safety of our customers and our employees. We provide information they can use to live and work safely around natural gas - whether it is to understand the dangers of carbon monoxide or keep sidewalks clear and free of ice. Read the following tips to learn more.

From walkway to wallet

ATCO Gas meter readers pass through residential yards to read meters. Meters measure the amount of gas customers use so an accurate bill – not an estimated one – can be produced. As winter approaches, accessing customers’ yards is more challenging because ice and snow may leave sidewalks and paths leading to the meter treacherous.

When snow falls, things homeowners leave in yards get covered up –

• a shovel or tools
• children’s toys
• a hole
• building materials or
• even more dangerous, an icy sidewalk.
   

Safety is everyone’s responsibility

Albertans have a responsibility to keep their yards free of hazards and their sidewalks free of ice. ATCO Gas employees are not the only people who access your walkways - children, friends and neighbours do, too.

Greenest option for maintaining an ice-free sidewalk

Shovelling your sidewalk after a snowfall is the most environmentally friendly way of making sure your sidewalk is safe for everyone - and the sooner after a snowfall the better.

Shovel safely

Shovelling is a strenuous activity. Rest often and use simple precautions to shovel safely.

Natural alternatives that add traction

More natural alternatives like sand, ashes and kitty litter are used often as traction to prevent slipping. They don’t actually melt ice.

When shovelling isn’t enough

If shovelling isn’t enough, you may want to consider a de-icer. De-icers are often used as a way to keep sidewalks and walkways clear. Ninety-five percent of all de-icers are made from one, or a blend, of five chemicals:

• calcium chloride

• sodium chloride

• potassium chloride

• urea and

• calcium magnesium acetate

Understanding the chemical properties of the above ingredients will better help you choose a de-icer when and if the time comes and you need one.
 

Do your research

Understanding the chemical properties of these ingredients will help you choose a de-icer that’s right for you. One option is to mix deicer with sand to reduce overall use.
Below are some links to help you figure out the best and most environmentally friendly ways to keep your sidewalks and walkways free of ice.

http://water.greenventure.ca/road-salts-deicers
http://www.ec.gc.ca/nopp/roadsalt/en/rpt.cfm

Try to look for those with the least environmental impact. Remember to read labels; cleverly named products aren’t necessarily the safest or most effective. Check out the link below for some green products.

http://chemistry.about.com/b/2008/12/28/what-is-the-best-deicer.htm

Carbon Monoxide 101

With the arrival of the heating season, ATCO Gas is urging Albertans to take action to protect themselves against carbon monoxide poisoning.

Often referred to as the “silent killer”, carbon monoxide (CO) is extremely dangerous mostly because it is difficult to detect. It is

• invisible

• odourless

• tasteless

Exposure to CO can cause serious illness or death – the majority of which happens in the winter when people operate their fuel burning appliances or warm their vehicle by running it in an garage, even with the door open.

For more information about carbon monoxide, click here.