EnviroTech Journal

Winter road management practices should carefully balance the safety of both the public and
the environment. When ice and snow are not removed from road surfaces, the results are
catastrophic, even deadly for drivers. On the flip side, over-applying caustic treatments to keep roads clear can harm the environment. Let's learn how to responsibly satisfy both these needs.

Why does air pollution get worse during the winter time? You may remember from school scientific experiments, that cold air sinks and warm air rises. Cold air is more dense and moves more slowly than warm air. Sinking cold air can create an atmospheric cap over the earth’s surface, while warm air passes over the top. This cap prevents pollution from dissipating, and creates unhealthy conditions for anyone within it.

“Salt is salt” is a common misconception which has permeated the deicing industry for years. In reality, there are several chemical and physical properties that distinguish different salts from each other. Let’s learn about a specific type of deicer containing complex chlorides and why that matters for road safety, infrastructure, and the environment.

Every year millions of workers are exposed to one or more chemical in the workplace that poses a physical or health hazard, otherwise known as a hazardous chemical.

What is the GHS?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires demolition sites to properly manage storm water and dust to comply with environmental regulations and reduce environmental impacts. One concern that arises while working on a demolition site is the possibility of site pollutants being released into nearby waterways due to storm water runoff.

When winter storms come, it is typically the state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) and Public Works Agency's responsibility to ensure roads are snow and ice free. Individuals who help create and implement deicing and anti-icing programs are looking to make strategic decisions that maximize operational efficiency.

To increase efficiency, it is important to avoid expensive and time-consuming obstacles, like vehicle maintenance and replacement. State DOTs and Public Works Agencies are taking proactive measures to minimize issues, like corrosion damage, which can be a large contributor to vehicle damage. 

Corrosion is a natural oxidation process that erodes metals due to chemical reactions. Once corrosion is present, it spreads quickly and degrades the quality of metal by forming abrasions, cracks, and holes. State DOTs are working to alleviate corrosion damage by decreasing the amount of product needed to clear roads by implementing brine technology and corrosion inhibitors.

Sometimes product deliveries do not go as planned…

The product may have been delivered to the wrong location, perhaps the wrong amount of product was delivered, or even the wrong product itself was delivered! Cut out the hassle of delivery when you order with EnviroTech Services, Inc.

EnviroTech Services, Inc. is proud to provide quick and convenient delivery of superior road surface solutions. To ensure complete customer satisfaction, EnviroTech Services, Inc. utilizes local Denver service, Sitefotos, for photo-taking, project-tagging, customer communication, and more! By simply snapping a photo of the before and after conditions of a project, communication with the customer is increased with the touch of a button.

When the snow stops flying and the roads are slowing down, it is common for anyone working in snow removal to wonder how the shift went as they finish the last run of the day. 

“How could have my shift gone better?,” you ask yourself as you remember moments that seemed a little off- like how the truck jumped when the plow grabbed the snowpack or how the wing plow did not go down as fast as it did before.

When evaluating a long shift, it is important to think about the condition of your trucks and equipment.