Wendy Koslowski, a 10-year veteran of Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, plows highways and roads in the province.
When Wendy Koslowski grips the steering wheel a little harder, you can understand why. As a 10-year veteran of Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, she has seen a lot while driving a snowplow for the past decade. Her job often has her out in the wee hours of the morning and into the dark night skies in less than ideal weather conditions. It means time away from her family and missed occasions like birthdays, activities, and holidays. Koslowski is not seeking sympathy, though. In fact, she’s dedicated to her work because she believes in it and wants to ensure people are safe. “I’ll risk it because it’s my family out on that highway. My friends out on that highway. I like to see them go home safe,” she said. No doubt, Koslowski’s family worries about her, particularly during the cold, dark winter when she’s on the road. “They worry about the traffic, and if someone isn’t paying attention or if my truck will get hit,” Koslowski said. Koslowski says her family believes in her and the good she is doing. When she has a bad day, the thing that brings her back to earth is her youngest daughter’s hug. So what happens if you get injured at work and you can’t do the one thing you want most? Each year, there are about five snowplow hits in Saskatchewan.
Drive safely around snowplows and while she used to play roughly with her kids, she simply cannot skip and dance with them anymore. Before the incident, her daughter used to ask “how was your day mom?” But now, she asks “did anything bad happen today?” A little girl shouldn’t have to think about things like that. For now, Koslowski’s priority is bringing awareness to highway safety. “It opened my eyes even more when it happened to me,” she said. “It’s important for other people to be safe and know what’s going on out there.” That’s why she has chosen to share her story. “If you do have to pass a snowplow, pass with care.” Treat snowplows the same as you would any emergency vehicle. If they are pulled over and have their blue light flashing, slow to 60 km/h and pass with caution. If you are following a plow and their blue light is flashing, pass them when safe to do so. Snowplows do pull over every 10 to 15 kilometres to let vehicles pass. The blue lights are on whenever the plow is engaged in winter activity. This can include surveillance, sanding, salting, and plowing. Be sure to check out the Highway Hotline before you start your travel. There you’ll find all the up-to-date information you need to get where you’re going, safely. “Slow down, it’s not a race,” Koslowski said. ■
In early 2019, Koslowski was plowing roads on Highway 11, just south of Duck Lake, Saskatchewan when a car smacked into the plow she was operating from behind. She hit her face against the steering wheel and suffered neck and shoulder injuries. An incident lasting a fraction of a second would make an impact for months. She admits she can’t do her job like she used to and often needs help from her crew. “If it wasn’t for them, I likely wouldn’t be with the ministry anymore,” she said. Koslowski has problems moving her shoulder and neck, and struggles to do many of the things she used to. It’s not just her work life that has been impacted, it’s her home life too. Helping her husband on the farm has become a challenge, SNOW MANAGER | www.snowmanager.ca
Before the incident that injured Kowlowski’s neck and shoulders, her daughter used to ask “how was your day mom?” But now, she asks “did anything bad happen today?”
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