What Are the Dangers of Shoveling Snow?

Temperature

• Dressing inappropriately for the weather conditions or stubbornly enduring the cold in an effort to quickly finish the work can be a major problem. Frostbite is possible in the worst of conditions, but hypothermia is much more common. Perspiration can soak warm clothing during the work and quickly wick away body heat. Taking breaks indoors can lessen the risk.

Back Injuries

• Shoveling heavy snow is equivalent to repetitive heavy lifting. Incorrect technique results in unnecessary lower back stress and can cause painful, long-lasting injuries. If you can simply push the snow aside, push rather than lift. In heavier snowfalls, proper lifting procedures can also be applied to snow shoveling. Pull the loaded shovel blade toward you before lifting, and lift with your legs. Toss the snow aside from a standing position, not while bent over. Straight-handled shovels may be cheap, but bent ergonomic designs put less stress on the lower back.

Traffic

• Always pay attention to your surroundings. If you're cleaning snow from around a car parked on a city street, oncoming drivers may not see you as quickly as they would in good conditions. Be the first to move and get to a safe place when vehicles approach. Remember that a driver's view may be partly obscured and your retreat will be slowed by the weather. Reacting too late can trap you in a dangerous position.

Overexertion

• If you are not accustomed to heavy manual labor, pace yourself carefully. If your heart is pounding and you are out of breath, that's a signal you're pushing too hard. Slow down and take frequent breaks indoors. A good working pace should allow you to have a conversation while you work. If you're gasping so hard that you can't talk, you're putting your cardiac system into a highly stressed condition that can be dangerous if underlying health problems exist. Cold weather asthma is a common reaction to these factors and, can quickly add to existing stresses.

Precautions

• For those who use good sense, shoveling snow is generally not harmful. Dress properly for the conditions with appropriate gloves, hat and boots. Avoid working in the worst weather--the storm will pass soon enough. Wear brightly colored clothing to make yourself visible to drivers. Take frequent breaks indoors. Observe correct lifting procedures. Above all, pace yourself. If you couldn't safely run a mile at top speed, don't shovel a walkway at that fast pace, either.