Industrial snow removal is more than plowing the parking lot. In Ontario, the Industrial Establishments regulation requires every floor or other surface used by workers to be kept free of snow and ice, and the Fire Code requires fire access routes to be ready for fire trucks at all times. A good winter plan sets priorities, snow storage, salting and record keeping before the first storm, so the contractor knows what to clear first when snow falls at 3 a.m.
This guide covers what the rules require, how to plan an industrial site for winter, and a checklist to finish before November 1.
What Ontario Rules Require at an Industrial Site
Several sets of rules apply at once. The table summarizes the ones facility managers in Durham Region run into most.
| Rule | What it says | What it means for your plan |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario Regulation 851 (Industrial Establishments), s. 11 | Any floor or other surface used by a worker must be kept free of obstructions, hazards and accumulations of snow or ice | Walkways, yard routes and outdoor work areas staff use belong in the clearing scope |
| Ontario Fire Code, article 2.5.1.3 | Fire access routes must be maintained so they are immediately ready for use by fire department vehicles at all times | Fire routes are cleared first and never used for snow storage |
| Ontario Fire Code, article 2.7.1.8 | Exterior passageways, exterior stairways and fire escapes in occupied buildings must be kept free of snow and ice | Exit stairs and fire escapes need hand clearing and de-icing, not just plowing |
| Municipal sidewalk by-laws | Owners clear the public sidewalk beside the property by a set deadline | Pickering allows 24 hours; Oshawa requires commercial owners to clear sidewalks and ramps by midnight the day after a storm ends |
| Occupiers' Liability Act, s. 6.1 | Written notice of a snow or ice injury claim must be served within 60 days | Dated service records matter when a notice arrives |
Pickering's by-laws go further than most and list walkways, driveways, ramps, loading docks, parking areas, and outdoor stairs and landings as the owner's responsibility. Check your own municipality's rules, because deadlines and details differ from town to town and they change.
Set Clearing Priorities Before the First Storm
When snow falls overnight, a crew cannot clear everything at once. Agree on the order in writing so nobody guesses. A typical order for an industrial site:
- Fire access routes and the areas around hydrants and fire department connections. The Fire Code requires access routes to be ready at all times.
- Exits, exterior stairways and fire escapes. These must be kept free of snow and ice under the Fire Code.
- Employee entrances and the walkways from the lot to the door, before the first shift arrives.
- Accessible parking spaces and the main parking area.
- Loading docks and truck routes, timed around shipping and receiving.
- Storage yards and low-traffic areas once the rest is done.
Mark each area on a site plan and give a copy to your contractor. If shifts start at 6 a.m. or run around the clock, say so, because it changes when crews need to be on site.
Plan Where the Snow Goes
On a busy site, snow storage runs out faster than people expect. Decide before the season where the piles go, and keep them out of these places:
- Fire routes, hydrants and fire department connections. Pickering's by-law prohibits piling snow where it blocks the view of, or access to, a fire hydrant, and Oshawa asks businesses to keep 2 feet (about 60 cm) clear around hydrants.
- Public streets and sidewalks. Pickering's by-law prohibits putting snow, ice or slush on a City street, and Oshawa asks owners to pile snow on their own property, not the roadway.
- Catch basins. The City of Pickering notes that a catch basin blocked by snow can cause flooding when snow melts, and the water can turn to ice if the temperature drops again.
- Sight lines at lot exits and truck routes, so drivers can see pedestrians and traffic.
Mark storage areas with stakes before the ground freezes, so the first plow driver puts snow in the right place.
Salt and De-icing
On our commercial and industrial contracts, salt or calcium chloride goes down after every plow visit. A few points help when you set expectations with any contractor:
- Temperature matters. The City of Pickering notes that salt works best when the road temperature is between 0 and minus 10 degrees Celsius. In deeper cold, ask how your contractor adjusts.
- Salt affects the environment. Pickering notes that Environment Canada has declared road salt toxic to the environment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, which is why road authorities meter and pre-wet salt to use less of it.
- Supply can run short. In January 2026, Pickering reported a province-wide road salt shortage and said it might use blends of salt and sand to stretch supplies. Ask your contractor how it secures material for the whole season.
Records That Protect the Site
Every visit on our commercial contracts is logged with a timestamp, photos, conditions and salt application rates. On an industrial site, those records do two jobs. They show staff and managers what was done and when, and they give you a dated record if a claim arrives.
Under section 6.1 of Ontario's Occupiers' Liability Act, written notice of a snow or ice injury claim must be served within 60 days, with the date, time and location. If you receive one, the Act requires you to send a copy to your snow removal contractor. This is general information, not legal advice. Talk to your lawyer or insurer about your own obligations.
Pre-Season Checklist for Facility Managers
Work through this list in September and October:
- A site plan marking fire routes, exits, stairways, loading docks, walkways and storage areas
- A written order of priorities and the times shifts start
- The public sidewalks you are responsible for, and your municipality's deadline
- Who clears exit stairs and fire escapes by hand
- Salting expectations and how material supply is secured
- How visits are recorded and how you get copies of the logs
- A contact person on site for overnight storms
- Contract dates that cover the season. Ours run November 1 to April 15.
Common Questions
Is industrial snow removal different from commercial snow removal?
The service is the same, but industrial sites usually add truck routes, loading docks, outdoor work areas and round-the-clock shifts. Ontario's Industrial Establishments regulation also requires surfaces workers use to be kept free of snow and ice.
Who is responsible for snow on fire routes at an industrial property?
The property owner or operator. The Ontario Fire Code requires fire access routes to be maintained so they are immediately ready for fire department vehicles at all times.
Do industrial snow contracts include salting?
Ours do. Salt or calcium chloride is applied after every plow visit, and each visit is logged with the salt application rate.
When should an industrial site sign a snow contract?
In September or October. We sign commercial and industrial contracts then so priorities, storage areas and timing are agreed before the season starts on November 1.
Get a Plan for Your Site
We clear industrial sites across Durham Region under our industrial snow removal service, and commercial and multi-unit properties under our commercial snow removal service, with weather-monitored dispatch, salting every visit and time-stamped logs. See the local rules on our pages for Oshawa, Pickering, Whitby and Ajax, or read our snow removal tips. Contact us to book a site review and a free on-site quote anywhere in Durham Region.
Sources: Ontario e-Laws, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851, Industrial Establishments; Ontario e-Laws, O. Reg. 213/07, Fire Code; Ontario e-Laws, Occupiers' Liability Act, section 6.1; City of Pickering, Snow Safety Tips and FAQ; City of Pickering, Ice and Snow Clearing; City of Pickering, Snow Removal and Clearing; City of Oshawa, Snow Clearing.
