WINTER SERVICES DECISION MAKERS COURSE AND ACCREDITATION
UNIT NUMBER
DURATION 3.5HOURS
01/01
SUBJECT
UNIT SUMMARY
The law, The code and your Policy relating to Winter Services
Relevant legislation and case law
Well-maintained Highways and other national guidance
Local winter service policy including risk assessment
The Law regarding Winter Service
Winter Service Responsibilities
- Highways Act 1980 Sections 41 & 150
o Amendment by Railways and Transport Safety Act to section 41 of Highways Act 1980
- Network Management Duty of the Traffic Management Act 2004 regarding its application to
winter service
- Environmental issues with salt
- Duty to remove snow
- Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
o (including COSHH for Salt)
- Risk Management and Assessment
- Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007
Past Court Cases
- Important cases that define court ruling – such as –
o Goodes v East Sussex County Council
National Codes of Good Practice
- Well Maintained Highways
o Chapter 13 Winter Service and Appendix H in particular
o Understanding reasons behind for Code of Practice and complimentary guidance
documentation
o Understanding how local winter policy the winter is robustly determined
o National winter review documents
- National Winter Service Research Group publications
- [ICE Design and Practice Guides “Highway Winter Maintenance”, Thomas Telford 2000]
possibly dated now
LEARNING
OUTCOMES
COURSE
ASSESSMENT
EVIDENCE
REQUIRED FOR
PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATE
REVIEW
UNIT NUMBER
On successful completion the candidate will demonstrate and understanding of the legal requirement of
winter services arrangements. The candidate will be able to interpret the legal aspects and principles of
service provision and demonstrate the application of these legal issues in winter services policy
arrangements
Exercises during tuition and end of course multi choice questionnaire (pass rate of 70 % required )
Assess how your organisation justifies which roads it de-ices and when to comply with its legal duty. (If your
organisation treats all its network then consider how you would justify treating a smaller amount of the
highway network)
DURATION 2.5 HOURS
1
WINTER SERVICES DECISION MAKERS COURSE AND ACCREDITATION
01/02
SUBJECT
UNIT SUMMARY
The importance of Record Keeping
Principles of good record-keeping
Winter claims & types of records that may be required
Police Road Death Investigation Manual
Detail
- Principles of good record-keeping to defend claims etc
o Good and bad records
o Fact and opinion
o Justification for decisions
o Record retention
o Electronic recordso Decision making support systems
o Contemporaneous notes
-
Police Road Death Investigation Manual
o Appendix F – information to be requested from a highway authority
o Contemporaneous notes
-
Winter claims
o Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (Woolf Protocol) (England & Wales only)
-
Types of records that may be required
o Justification and records for actions and decisions
o Confirmation of receipt of action to contractor/DLO
o Gritter tracking systems and records
o Plant maintenance and calibration records
o Weather station maintenance and calibration records
o Salt management and testing records
o Weather records (forecast and actual)
o Inspection records/decisions
o Control room logs
o Works supervisor and gritter driver logs
o Staffing logs/rotas
o Training records (staff and drivers)
LEARNING OUTCOMES
COURSE
ASSESSMENT
EVIDENCE REQUIRED
FOR PROFESSIONAL
On successful completion of the professional certificate the candidate will be able to describe
the relevance of maintaining records of decision making and activities and present evidence of
such records and give examples of records used in requests for information and/or liability
Exercises during tuition and end of course multi choice questionnaire (pass rate of 70 %
required )
Identify a legal claim that has been made against your organisation (or another organisation if you have
none!) relating to winter service, ideally one that has been prepared for the court process.
2
WINTER SERVICES DECISION MAKERS COURSE AND ACCREDITATION
CERTIFICATE REVIEW
Summarise the basis for the allegations, the defense and, if known, the outcome. List the winter
documents provided as evidence to defend the case.
Assess the learning points from this case and how improvements in record-keeping or operations could
have improved the defense of this case.
3
WINTER SERVICES DECISION MAKERS COURSE AND ACCREDITATION
DURATION 2.5 HOURS
UNIT NUMBER
02/01
SUBJECT
Winter Service Plant and Delivery
UNIT SUMMARY
-
Types of winter service plant
Treatment considerations
Calibration of plant
Drivers’ considerations including health and safety
Detail:
- Types of plant (gritters, snow ploughs, snow-blowers etc)
- Treatment options (dry, pre-wet, treated salt)
- Calibration of plant
- Salt storage and moisture content
- Different treatment types
- Ploughs
- Readiness and response
- Drivers’ hours
- Drivers’ qualifications
- Drivers’ safety
- Include appropriate elements of C&G Unit 021
LEARNING OUTCOMES
COURSE
ASSESSMENT
EVIDENCE REQUIRED
FOR PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATE REVIEW

On successful completion the candidate will be able to describe appropriate plant and
equipment, explain measurement, calibration and operating processes and illustrate correct
use.
Exercises during tuition and end of course multi choice questionnaire (pass rate of 70 % required )
Assess the arrangements that your organisation has made for delivery of winter service and how it
complies with the recommendations of Appendix H of Well-maintained Highways. Why has your
organisation’s choice of de-icer been made and describe your organisation’s plans for compliance with
Appendix H.
4
WINTER SERVICES DECISION MAKERS COURSE AND ACCREDITATION
UNIT NUMBER
SUBJECT
DURATION 2.5 HOURS
02/02
Severe Winter Weather and Snow Response
UNIT SUMMARY
-
Managing snow emergencies & snow plans
Resilience planning and critical infrastructure
Self-help strategies
Detail:
- Snow plans
- Snow ploughing strategies and implementation
- Managing snow emergencies
- Linking with emergency services
- Specific vulnerable network location snow plans
- Self-help strategies
- Resilience planning
- Quarmby report and recommendations
- National Winter Service Research Group publications
- [ICE Design and Practice Guides “Highway Winter Maintenance”, Thomas Telford 2000]
LEARNING OUTCOMES
COURSE
ASSESSMENT
EVIDENCE REQUIRED
FOR PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATE REVIEW

On successful completion the candidate will be able to demonstrate an understanding of snow
clearance, both strategically and through implementation.
Exercises during tuition and end of course multi choice questionnaire (pass rate of 70 % required )
Assess your organisation’s response to a recent snow event and interaction with other stakeholders
and partners.
5
WINTER SERVICES DECISION MAKERS COURSE AND ACCREDITATION
UNIT NUMBER
DURATION 1.5 HOURS
02/03
SUBJECT
UNIT SUMMARY
Winter Communications
Pre-winter information and travel advice
Operational communication including use of radio and TV
Severe winter emergency communications
Review and feedback on winter service
Detail:
- Pre-winter public engagement
o Salting network
o Winter travel advice
- Operational communication of actions
o Use of radio and TV
o Web (actions, advice, policy, real-time information)
o Social media
- Severe winter emergency communications
o Travel information
o Public re-assurance
o Snow Warden/self-help actions/advice
- Liaison with Highways Agency and other highway authorities
o Joined up network approach
o Common messages
o Pre-agreed protocol
- Public Satisfaction Surveys
-
LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion the candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the various
methods of communication of winter information and advice to the public and others, and be
able to present examples and demonstrate effectiveness.
COURSE
ASSESSMENT
Exercises during tuition and end of course multi choice questionnaire (pass rate of 70 % required )
EVIDENCE REQUIRED
FOR PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATE REVIEW
Assess the key communications undertaken by your organisation in relation to winter service in relation
to the public, stakeholders and partners and assess how feedback is obtained about your winter service
and what is being learnt from the feedback.
6
WINTER SERVICES DECISION MAKERS COURSE AND ACCREDITATION
UNIT NUMBER
DURATION 7.5 HOURS
03/01
SUBJECT
Winter Road Meteorology
UNIT SUMMARY
- General weather overview
- how weather affects the highway
- road weather hazards
- forecast prediction
- understanding forecast information, levels of confidence
Detail
- Understand how weather affects the highway
- Understand road weather hazards
- Interpret weather information provided in road weather forecasts
- Assess the risks to the highway presented by a weather forecast in a variety of winter
scenarios, including precipitation
- Demonstrate an understanding of the weather forecast
- Understanding different types of frost and their effect on the highway in particular hoar
frost
- Heat balance model
- Snow and freezing rain forecasts
- Weather radar and satellite
- Interpretation of forecast graphs and weather information systems
- Updates and consultancy from forecast providers
- Recognising hail showers on weather systems
- Temperature variations across network
- Identifying critical situations (snow, precipitation causing salt wash-off, freezing rain, ice
etc)
LEARNING OUTCOMES

COURSE
ASSESSMENT
EVIDENCE REQUIRED
FOR PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATE REVIEW
On successful completion the candidate will demonstrate an ability to identify methods of
weather forecasting relating to winter services, interpret forecast information and explain how
these affect road conditions.
Exercises during tuition and end of course multi choice questionnaire (pass rate of 70 % required )
Assess your organisation’s use of the range of weather information that is currently available for winter
service decision-making and whether best use is being made of all the services/tools that are available
7
WINTER SERVICES DECISION MAKERS COURSE AND ACCREDITATION
UNIT NUMBER
DURATION 3.5 HOURS
04/01
SUBJECT
Ice Prediction systems and monitoring
UNIT SUMMARY
-
Ice prediction and detection systems
Monitoring forecast graphs and weather information systems
Detail
Ice Prediction Systems
Typical system structure and components
o Hardware
o Software
o Data flow
Benefits, value and limitations of ice prediction systems
Road weather stations
o Atmospheric sensors
o Road sensors
o Sensing methods, advantages and disadvantages of each method
- Interpretation of data provided by weather stations
- Relationship between weather station data and forecast data
- Weather station location – how to ensure sufficient network coverage
- Weather station equipment maintenance
- Demonstrate an understanding of the data provided by ice prediction systems
Monitoring
- Determining when changes to action may be required
- Response to reports of ice, on and off the salting network
- Residual salt measurement and limitations
- Thermal mapping and route-based forecasting
- Liaison with adjoining authorities
- Other weather data sources (CCTV/webcams, Police, staff, public etc)
LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion the candidate will demonstrate decision making tools, be able to
interpret information received and demonstrate application in practical situations.
COURSE
ASSESSMENT
Exercises during tuition and end of course multi choice questionnaire (pass rate of 70 % required )
EVIDENCE REQUIRED
FOR PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATE REVIEW
Describe how you monitor a marginal or changeable forecast throughout the 24 hour period, what
planned and unplanned actions could be taken and assess the effectiveness of this approach. Use
practical examples.
8
WINTER SERVICES DECISION MAKERS COURSE AND ACCREDITATION
UNIT NUMBER
DURATION 3 HOURS
04/02
SUBJECT
Decision Making
UNIT SUMMARY
-
Factors in decision making- confidence levels
Decision matrix and treatments options
Scenarios
Detail:
- Decision matrix and treatments options
o (see local policy & WMH appendix H)
- Effect of forecast confidence on decisions
- Delaying decision making
- Use of inspections as part of decision making
- Variations of action across network
- Consultation with adjacent highway authorities
- Decision making aids
- Residual salt
- Scenarios
LEARNING OUTCOMES
COURSE
ASSESSMENT
EVIDENCE REQUIRED
FOR PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATE REVIEW

On successful completion the candidate will Describe decision making tools, interpret
information received and demonstrate application in practical situations.
Exercises during tuition and end of course multi choice questionnaire (pass rate of 70 % required )
Give an example of each of three different winter decisions that you have made detailing the thought
process and reflect on whether any aspect of them could be improved. The weather scenarios must
include:
- a marginal night
- a cold night (road temperatures below 2 °C)
- a forecast which includes snow
9
WINTER SERVICES DECISION MAKERS COURSE AND ACCREDITATION
UNIT NUMBER
05/03 OPTIONAL
SUBJECT
Severe Weather planning
UNIT SUMMARY
TBC
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TBC
COURSE
ASSESSMENT
EVIDENCE REQUIRED
FOR PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATE REVIEW
TBC
TBC
10