Don’t Just Serve Scrambled Eggs: Keeping Winter Ops Training Fresh

When it comes to winter operations, most leaders recognize the importance of training. Crews need to know the rules, the procedures, and the expectations. But here’s the problem: too often, training is served up once, checked off the list, and left to grow cold.

It’s like serving scrambled eggs. Quick, easy, predictable. But if that’s all you ever get, it doesn’t take long before no one’s excited to eat breakfast.

The same is true for operational knowledge. If your staff only sees winter training once a year, it fades fast. To keep skills sharp and safety front of mind, leaders need to keep putting “eggs” on the table — but in different ways.

Different Ways to Serve the Egg

Just as an egg can be scrambled, boiled, fried, or turned into a soufflé, training can take many forms:

• Shift briefings (hard-boiled eggs)
  Straightforward and to the point. Quick reminders before heading out on the ramp.

• Scenario discussions (sunny side up)
  Looking at a situation from one angle at a time — like an unexpected snow squall or equipment failure — and walking through the response.

• Map and layout reviews (over easy)
  Revisiting snow dump sites, priority routes, or emergency access areas to make sure everyone knows the lay of the land.

• Procedure walk-throughs (omelette)
  A mix of ingredients — regulations, best practices, local variations — folded together and reviewed as a team.

• Group exercises (frittata)
  Richer and more filling. Involve multiple roles working together to solve a challenge, whether on paper or in the field.

• Hands-on demonstrations (eggs Benedict)
  The deluxe version. Watching and doing is more memorable than reading. Crews see the proper way to execute, then practice it themselves.

• Peer-to-peer refreshers (devilled eggs)
  A twist that keeps things interesting. Encourage experienced staff to lead short refreshers in their own words.

The point isn’t to reinvent the egg — it’s to serve it differently so it doesn’t get stale.

Keep it fresh. Keep it safe. And please — don’t just serve scrambled eggs.