Mike Stagg, presenter, told webinar attendees that communities should "prepare now" for winter hazards that bring more slips, crashes and facility problems.

Stagg said the coming season will shift activity patterns, daylight and temperatures and urged immediate steps to reduce risk. "A lot of what you hear me say today is prepare now. Be proactive now so we don't have to be reactive later," he said.

Stagg outlined three specific pieces of "homework" for municipal and facility staff: walk and document facilities, ensure doorways and equipment are stocked and ready, and drive snowplow routes before the first storm. He said those steps help prevent accidents and create documentation that can defend organizations if a slip-and-fall claim arises.

He recommended practical vehicle and equipment checks: swap summertime windshield washer fluid for de-icing fluid, replace windshield wipers, keep a snow brush and ice scraper in every fleet vehicle, inspect tires for sufficient tread (look for the three-peak mountain symbol), and service batteries. "Change out your windshield washer fluid" and "make sure we've got a good pair of sunglasses" were examples he gave to improve driver visibility, and he advised drivers to "slow your vehicles down" during darker, winter commutes.

On facilities, Stagg advised preventive maintenance: clear gutters and consider grates or covers to prevent ice dams, inspect roofs for snow-collection areas and icicle hazards, review boiler and heater servicing, and set clear policies for space-heater use. Noting a prior problem at the Trust Building, he said staff waited "3 or 4 days" for heater parts last year and recommended servicing now to avoid similar outages.

Staffing and training were emphasized. Stagg recommended defensive-driver training for personnel, annual review of emergency action plans (he said this is an OSHA requirement and recommended doing the reviews annually), and task-specific cold-weather personal protective equipment such as insulated, chemical-resistant gloves and retroreflective outerwear.

He also advised operational preparations for public-facing assets: inspect playground fill and refill or rake now while the material is workable; identify and protect outdoor valves, sprinkler risers, tanks and pump houses; and burn off old gasoline in small engines and use ethanol-free gas for snowblowers.

For snow removal, Stagg recommended crews physically drive planned routes (without plows) to identify mailbox, manhole and valve hazards and to minimize backing maneuvers that cause collisions. He urged creating or reviewing contracts with contractors who handle snow removal.

Stagg flagged seasonal behavioral and environmental patterns that increase risk: children returning to school who walk and bike near facilities; migrating wildlife moving to lower elevations; rapidly shifting temperatures that cause freeze–thaw cycles; and changes from daylight saving time that affect morning and evening sun glare.

Jason, the webinar host/moderator, opened and closed the session and invited questions; no substantive attendee questions were recorded during the presentation.

Stagg closed by repeating the main call to action: inspect sites, prepare equipment and train staff now so agencies are not scrambling when snow and ice arrive.