Fillable checklist

Snow Removal Checklist: Walks Roof and Equipment (Free Printable PDF)

Fillable after-storm snow and ice form: walks, drive, roof from the ground, hydrants, blower, and ice melt. Print blank or save a filled PDF.

Maintenance Fillable form · 8 sections · 40 checks Download filled or blank PDF and CSV Cross-checked against Ready.gov, OSHA, CPSC, CDC, and NFPA · Last verified Sep 16, 2026

Snugage fillable checklist

Fill this on screen, then download a PDF or CSV. Download a blank copy to complete by hand. Answers stay in this tab only. The next visitor sees a blank form. This is owner after-storm and mid-winter snow and ice work on a US home: walks, drive, roof from the ground, hydrants, equipment, and ice melt. It is not a licensed structural inspection and not a federal snow-load pass or fail. Do not climb an icy roof. Follow the snow-blower OEM manual.

  • 8 sections
  • 40 checks
  • Blank for each visitor

Form details

Property and storm

Record the storm you are clearing, not a score. Snow depth and outdoor temperature are notes only. This form does not invent a federal snow-load pass or fail. This is a household maintenance template, not a licensed inspection and not a substitute for the equipment OEM procedure.

9 fields
Property and storm

Write what you see, for example 6 in or ice glaze. This is not a pass or fail limit.

Record the air temperature while you work. This is not a pass or fail limit.

Owner, household member, neighbor, or plow service.

CDC and Ready.gov: cold work plus shoveling can strain the heart. OSHA: warm up, take breaks, push snow instead of lifting when you can.

Ready.gov #WinterReady and CDC: older adults and anyone who cannot clear ice safely should ask for help so walks and steps stay open.

Inspection station

Walks, steps, drive, and porches

Clear walking surfaces first. Ice-melt product choice stays in the ice-melt section. Roof and hydrant lines stay in their own sections. Mark N/A only if that surface is not on the property.

8 items
Walks, steps, drive, and porches

Walkways and public sidewalk cleared of snow and ice

OSHA winter pages: clear walking surfaces of snow and ice, and spread deicer, as quickly as possible after a winter storm. 29 CFR 1910.22 treats snow and ice as walking-surface hazards at work. CDC: many cold-weather injuries are falls on ice-covered sidewalks, steps, driveways, and porches.

Walkways and public sidewalk cleared of snow and ice: Done, Skip, or N/A

Steps, landings, and porches cleared

CDC: keep steps and walkways as free of ice as possible. Ready.gov #WinterReady: get help so outside walkways and steps stay clear. Treat the porch and the first steps as part of the exit path, not as leftover decoration snow.

Steps, landings, and porches cleared: Done, Skip, or N/A

Driveway and garage apron cleared

FEMA How To Prepare for a Winter Storm: keep pathways and driveways clear between storms so piles do not ice over. Clear a path wide enough to walk and to move a car without stepping into a berm.

Driveway and garage apron cleared: Done, Skip, or N/A

Paths kept open between storms so piles do not ice over

FEMA How To Prepare: keep pathways and driveways clear between storms to avoid buildup of snow piles and icing. A packed berm at the curb or mailbox is a new ice ridge on the next freeze.

Paths kept open between storms so piles do not ice over: Done, Skip, or N/A

Outdoor lights on at walks and stairs

Ready.gov #WinterReady (CDC older-adult tips): low lighting is a major cause of falls, so make sure there is enough lighting outdoors, especially near walkways and stairs.

Outdoor lights on at walks and stairs: Done, Skip, or N/A

Insulated, water-resistant boots with rubber treads worn

OSHA: when walking on snow or ice is unavoidable, wear insulated, water-resistant boots with good rubber treads, or rubber overshoes with treads over street shoes.

Insulated, water-resistant boots with rubber treads worn: Done, Skip, or N/A

Short steps and a slower pace on leftover ice

OSHA: take short steps and walk at a slower pace so you can react to a change in traction. CDC: avoid walking on ice when you can.

Short steps and a slower pace on leftover ice: Done, Skip, or N/A

Steps have a textured grip; icy main door avoided if another entry is safer

Ready.gov #WinterReady: make sure steps are sturdy and have textured grip in icy or wet weather. If the main entrance stays icy, use a different entrance when you can. Dry cane, walker, or wheelchair tips before you go inside.

Steps have a textured grip; icy main door avoided if another entry is safer: Done, Skip, or N/A

Inspection station

Roof from the ground

Stay on the ground. OSHA and FEMA tell you to keep people off snow-covered roofs when you can. This section is a ground look plus a snow rake if you use one. It is not a federal snow-load pass or fail. Mark contractor lines Skip if you already have a roofing pro scheduled.

8 items
Roof from the ground

Roof looked at from the ground for sag, heavy drift, or eave ice

FEMA How To Prepare: check that the roof can handle extra snow and ice weight, and hire a contractor for unusually heavy loads. OSHA HA-3513: snow load (pounds per square foot) depends on water content, drift, slope, and the building design. There is no single federal pass or fail depth on this form. Look from the ground for sag, a new drip line, or a thick ice dam at the eave.

Roof looked at from the ground for sag, heavy drift, or eave ice: Done, Skip, or N/A

No one went onto the snow-covered or icy roof

OSHA winter pages and HA-3513: use snow-removal methods that do not put people on the roof when you can. Falls from roof edges, through hidden skylights, and from ladders are the main killer in rooftop snow work. This household form does not send owners onto icy roofs.

No one went onto the snow-covered or icy roof: Done, Skip, or N/A

If snow was pulled off, it was with a ground-level snow rake in small bites

OSHA HA-3513: snow rakes and drag lines from the ground are the preferred home method. Remove small amounts at a time so you are not hit or buried by a slide. Do not stand on a ladder and rake or shovel at the same time. That combination is a common fatal fall in OSHA cases.

If snow was pulled off, it was with a ground-level snow rake in small bites: Done, Skip, or N/A

People and cars kept back from the drop zone

OSHA HA-3513: people on the ground can be trapped under snow falling from a roof. Mark a work zone and keep people about 10 feet back from where snow will fall or be blown. Wear eye and head protection when ice is coming down.

People and cars kept back from the drop zone: Done, Skip, or N/A

Snow rakes and poles kept about 10 feet from overhead power lines

OSHA HA-3513 and 1910.333(c)(3): treat lines as energized. Keep at least 10 feet from power lines. Use a nonconductive extendable pole and have a second person watch the tip. OSHA: assume downed lines are live and stay clear.

Snow rakes and poles kept about 10 feet from overhead power lines: Done, Skip, or N/A

Gutters and downspouts checked from the ground, not from the roof

FEMA How To Prepare: clear rain gutters, repair roof leaks, and cut branches that could fall on the house. From the ground, look for ice packed in the gutter or a downspout that is not dripping. Climbing a snow-covered ladder to chip a gutter is a roof-access task: hire a pro.

Gutters and downspouts checked from the ground, not from the roof: Done, Skip, or N/A

Licensed contractor called if the roof looks overloaded or you cannot tell

FEMA How To Prepare: hire a contractor to check the structural ability of the roof for unusually heavy snow or ice. OSHA: a surface weighed down by snow must be judged by a competent person before anyone goes on it. This line is a phone call, not a climb.

Licensed contractor called if the roof looks overloaded or you cannot tell: Done, Skip, or N/A

Downed or damaged power lines left alone and reported

OSHA: assume all power lines are energized. Stay clear of downed or damaged lines and anything they touch, including tree limbs. Report the line to the utility. Only trained electrical workers handle damaged lines.

Downed or damaged power lines left alone and reported: Done, Skip, or N/A

Inspection station

Hydrants and fire access

Mark every line N/A if there is no hydrant on or next to the lot. NFPA 1 figures below are model fire-code guidance, not a federal hydrant law. Your city or fire marshal may set a different clear space.

5 items
Hydrants and fire access

Hydrant dug out after this storm

NFPA fire-department access page: in a cold climate, all snow must be removed from around the hydrant after each storm so firefighters can reach the outlets.

Hydrant dug out after this storm: Done, Skip, or N/A

About 36 inches of clear space around the hydrant barrel

NFPA: maintain a clear space of not less than 36 inches (914 mm) all the way around the hydrant. NFPA 1:18.5.10.2 is the model-code cite on NFPA's winterizing page. Local adopted fire code may differ. This is not a federal pass or fail.

About 36 inches of clear space around the hydrant barrel: Done, Skip, or N/A

About 60 inches in front of a steamer larger than 2 1/2 inches

NFPA: provide 60 inches (1524 mm) in front of a hydrant if it has a connection larger than 2 1/2 inches (64 mm) so hose can be attached and laid without a kink. Mark N/A if the hydrant has no large steamer or is not on this lot.

About 60 inches in front of a steamer larger than 2 1/2 inches: Done, Skip, or N/A

Hydrant still visible or flagged as piles grow

NFPA winterizing page (NFPA 1:18.5.10.2): flag the hydrant so it can be found when snow piles get high. A buried cap delays the first hose connection.

Hydrant still visible or flagged as piles grow: Done, Skip, or N/A

Drive and curb not piled so fire apparatus cannot reach the house

NFPA fire-department access: responders need a path to the building and to water. Do not throw driveway snow into the hydrant well or stack a berm that blocks the street edge a truck would use. Mark N/A on a lot with no hydrant and no shared curb cut.

Drive and curb not piled so fire apparatus cannot reach the house: Done, Skip, or N/A

Inspection station

Shovel and snow blower

These lines are the tools and how you use them. Walking-surface clearing stays in the walks section. Exhaust vents and a portable generator stay in the vents section. Mark snow-blower lines N/A if you shovel only.

10 items
Shovel and snow blower

Warmed up and took breaks in a warm place

OSHA: snow shoveling can cause exhaustion, back injury, or a heart attack. Warm up, take frequent breaks in a warm area, and follow cold-stress tips. Ready.gov: reduce heart-attack risk by avoiding overexertion when shoveling or walking in snow.

Warmed up and took breaks in a warm place: Done, Skip, or N/A

Pushed snow or used small scoops; lifted with the legs, no twist

OSHA: scoop small amounts, push the snow instead of lifting when you can, keep the back straight, lift with the legs, and do not turn or twist. FEMA How To Prepare: take breaks, push instead of lift, and lift lighter loads. Wet snow is heavier: take a smaller bite.

Pushed snow or used small scoops; lifted with the legs, no twist: Done, Skip, or N/A

Stopped for chest pain, dizziness, or heavy fatigue

CDC: cold weather puts extra strain on the heart. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor's advice about shoveling. Ready.gov and FEMA: overexertion while clearing snow can become a medical emergency. Stop, go inside, and get help if symptoms start.

Stopped for chest pain, dizziness, or heavy fatigue: Done, Skip, or N/A

Snow-blower owner's manual reviewed

CPSC 2024 winter release: read the snow blower manual before you use it. CPSC 1992: follow the owner's manual for care and maintenance. This form does not replace the OEM procedure for your machine.

Snow-blower owner's manual reviewed: Done, Skip, or N/A

Engine off, parts stopped, then unclogged with a tool, not hands

CPSC Publication 5117, 2023, and 2024: most injuries happen when someone reaches into the discharge chute or auger. Stop the engine, wait for moving parts to stop, then use the cleanout tool or a long stick. Never use your hands. OSHA: never clear a jam by hand.

Engine off, parts stopped, then unclogged with a tool, not hands: Done, Skip, or N/A

Hands and feet kept away from moving parts

CPSC 5117 and 1992: always keep hands and feet away from all moving parts. People have died after becoming caught in the machine.

Hands and feet kept away from moving parts: Done, Skip, or N/A

Gas snow blower never run in a garage or other enclosed space

CPSC 5117, 2023, and 2024: never leave a gas-powered snow blower running in an enclosed area. Exhaust carbon monoxide can kill in minutes. Start and run it outdoors only.

Gas snow blower never run in a garage or other enclosed space: Done, Skip, or N/A

Fuel added outdoors to a cool, stopped engine; can capped

CPSC: add fuel outdoors before starting. Do not add gasoline to a running or hot engine. Keep the can capped and store gasoline out of the house and away from ignition sources. CPSC 2023 and 2024: use a portable gasoline container with a child-resistant closure.

Fuel added outdoors to a cool, stopped engine; can capped: Done, Skip, or N/A

Guards and fasteners checked; machine not left running unattended

CPSC 1992: inspect often for loose or missing safety guards and loose nuts, bolts, and fasteners. Never leave a running machine unattended; shut the engine off if you walk away.

Guards and fasteners checked; machine not left running unattended: Done, Skip, or N/A

Electric cord kept clear of the auger (electric models)

CPSC 5117 and 1992: on an electric snow thrower, know where the power cord is at all times and keep it clear of the blades. OSHA: powered equipment should be grounded. Mark N/A on a gas machine.

Electric cord kept clear of the auger (electric models): Done, Skip, or N/A

Inspection station

Vents, exhaust, and generator

Snow can bury the openings that keep combustion air moving. These lines are a ground look only. Mark generator lines N/A if no generator is in use. Carbon monoxide work is not a substitute for a working CO alarm.

3 items
Vents, exhaust, and generator

Furnace or boiler intake and exhaust open when viewed from the ground

Ready.gov: carbon monoxide poisoning is a winter-storm killer. Install and test CO alarms with battery backup. After a drift, look from the ground for a buried sidewall PVC intake or exhaust, a metal flue cap packed with snow, or a window well stuffed against a louver. Do not climb onto an icy roof to clear a cap. Call a technician if you cannot see a clear path.

Furnace or boiler intake and exhaust open when viewed from the ground: Done, Skip, or N/A

Clothes dryer vent not buried

A buried dryer hood can push lint and moisture back into the house and is a fire and CO concern on a gas dryer. Clear the hood from the ground. Mark N/A if the dryer vents through a wall that stayed clear or if there is no dryer.

Clothes dryer vent not buried: Done, Skip, or N/A

Portable generator, if used, outdoors, dry, and about 20 feet from openings

Ready.gov winter weather and CDC after-storm page: generators and fuel stay outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents, and where rain or snow will not soak the unit. Ready.gov: let the generator cool before refueling. Never run it in a garage, even with the door open. Mark N/A if no generator is running.

Portable generator, if used, outdoors, dry, and about 20 feet from openings: Done, Skip, or N/A

Inspection station

Salt, ice melt, and traction

Use this station after the shovel or blower pass. Walking-surface clearing stays on the walks table. Mark a product line N/A if that product is not on site.

6 items
Salt, ice melt, and traction

De-icer spread on walks, steps, and the drive as soon as you can

OSHA winter pages: clear snow and ice from walking surfaces and spread deicer as quickly as possible after a winter storm. Waiting until the next commute lets a melt-freeze glaze form.

De-icer spread on walks, steps, and the drive as soon as you can: Done, Skip, or N/A

Rock salt or another labeled chemical de-icer used on ice

CDC: keep steps and walkways as free of ice as possible by using rock salt or another chemical de-icing compound. Follow the bag label for concrete, pets, and plants. This form does not pick one brand or a pounds-per-square-foot dose.

Rock salt or another labeled chemical de-icer used on ice: Done, Skip, or N/A

Sand or grit added where melt is not enough for traction

CDC: sand may also be used on walkways to reduce the risk of slipping. OSHA vehicle kits list sand or cat litter as a traction aid. Grit does not replace a de-icer on a thick glaze, but it helps while salt works.

Sand or grit added where melt is not enough for traction: Done, Skip, or N/A

Ice-melt label followed for the surface and the household

Use the product as the label states. Some blends damage new concrete or irritate paws. If the label and your city rules disagree on what you may spread on a public walk, follow the local rule.

Ice-melt label followed for the surface and the household: Done, Skip, or N/A

Walks rechecked as melt refreezes

OSHA: layers of ice can form as the temperature drops, making a surface that looked clear into a glaze. Recheck steps and the drive after sunset or before the next departure.

Walks rechecked as melt refreezes: Done, Skip, or N/A

Melt and slush wiped at the door so indoor floors are not slick

OSHA 1910.22 also covers wet floors from melting snow carried indoors. Put a mat at the door, wipe boots, and dry cane or walker tips (Ready.gov #WinterReady) before you step onto a hard indoor floor.

Melt and slush wiped at the door so indoor floors are not slick: Done, Skip, or N/A

Form details

Notes and sign-off

Write what is still icy, who you called, and when you will look again. Pick Contractor or plow scheduled when the roof, a hydrant you cannot reach, or a medical limit stopped the job. Do not mark Paths clear if steps or the hydrant are still buried.

6 fields
Notes and sign-off

OSHA: ice can form again as the temperature drops. Set a look before the next freeze or the next departure.

Draw your signature, or upload an image to replace it.

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References

  1. Winter Weather - Ready.gov / FEMA
  2. How To Prepare for a Winter Storm - FEMA / Ready.gov
  3. #WinterReady older-adult walkway and lighting tips - Ready.gov / FEMA
  4. Winter Weather Hazards and Precautions - OSHA
  5. Winter Weather Introduction, slips and roof snow - OSHA
  6. 29 CFR 1910.22 Walking-Working Surfaces, snow and ice - OSHA
  7. Falls and Other Hazards to Workers Removing Snow from Rooftops (HA-3513) - OSHA
  8. Snow Removal: Know the Hazards (OSHA 3966) - OSHA
  9. Snow Thrower Safety Alert, Publication 5117 - U.S. CPSC
  10. Let it Snow and Play it Safe This Winter, snow blower tips - U.S. CPSC
  11. Using A Snow Thrower Could Cause Serious Injuries - U.S. CPSC
  12. Cozy Up to Winter, snow blower carbon monoxide and cleanout - U.S. CPSC
  13. Safety Guidelines: During and After a Winter Storm - CDC
  14. Fire Department Access, hydrant snow clearance - NFPA
  15. Winterizing Your Sprinkler System, hydrant flag and NFPA 1:18.5.10.2 - NFPA

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These checklists are provided for general reference only. Always verify the steps against local codes, a licensed inspector or a qualified contractor before relying on them, especially for safety-critical work.