What’s your facility’s Winter Weather Plan? Published Oct. 26, 2010 By Brion Ockenfels Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Building on last year's success, base civil engineers with safety will hold a special Facility Manager's Winter Weather Preparations, Energy Conservation and Safety meeting from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Oct. 28 at the base theater. Wing, group and agency commanders should attend with their facility managers. Geri Hart, chief of assets management division with the 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineer Directorate, said two main topics of interest will be covered and attendees will have opportunities to ask questions. Information about snow and ice preparedness will help facility managers and their teams meet winter weather challenges as they prepare to keep sidewalks and entry ways safe. The other topic of energy conservation will be presented. Facility managers will learn about specific roles and responsibilities, what sand containers to buy, where to get sand and who is responsible for sidewalk and parking lot clearing. In addition to winter weather storm preparations, safety statistics about last winter's slips and falls will be discussed. Lt. Col. Aaron Troxell, chief of the 72nd Air Base Wing Safety Office, said the meeting goes beyond the nuts and bolts of facility management. "Each year winter slips and falls accounts for about 35 injuries in the air logistics center -- some serious," Colonel Troxell said. He said his staff finds that most building occupants are unaware of their facility's plan and can't stress enough that building occupants take an opportunity to review their building's ice and snow removal plan before the first winter storm. Facility managers create plans to address pedestrian walk ways, but always need assistance in removing snow and ice. He also recommends occupants find out where their facilities' shovels and materials are stored and be aware of preferred entrances or those entrances that will be locked due hazardous conditions. If entrances and walkways are hazardous, call or assist facility managers for the most immediate help in mitigating the problem. Many people do not realize that ice and snow removal from in and around building entrances and sidewalks is the responsibility of building occupants. CE does not clear entrances or sidewalks. They clear roads first and, when time permits, parking lots.