Our pavements are lethal

[janeyo]

OH promised me that there was no ice left this morning. he was gona walk the children to school if there was as he knows how it terrifies me.

The main paths were cear. I turn the corner to the cul-de cas leading to the school and it was lethal. My son fell over and hurt his arm.

A very tall woman went down in front of me and we think she has broken her wrist, they were going to call an ambulance.

A kind mum was at the bottom of a slope helping us get down safely with buggies and little ones etc.

It was a nightmare.

The school says it is not allowed to grit the bits outside the school.

CRAZY.

I walked back on the road. Felt safer.

[Chillimad]

Yep exactly the same here, trying to get car out of garage this morning was a feat in itself.

Drove the boys to schools, as paths are just so slippery, as are school carparks.

Now off to sunny brighton,, (I must be mad)..

[FionaH]

Schools aren't allowed to grit the paths due to h&s. As soon as they grit them they would become liable for any injuries that occur apparently. Crazy isnt it?

[Two_Sheds]

I would just walk in the road - Hi-Vis or reflective clothing if it's dark, and face the traffic

[janeyo]

I have emailed the local council (the 'pavement' department for us is about 30 miles away, and nothing to do with our normal council - crazy!) and asked for something to be done. Won't get me anywhere but at least I'll feel better about venting my spleen.

[willowstar]

we used to have this problem when I worked at a nursing home. the entrance was on a slight slope, many of the residents and visitors had mobility problems and we weren't allowed to put any grit down because in doing so we became somehow liable for any accidents. utter utter nonsence especially since we had some residents who wandered and we didn't like to lock people in. we used to sneak out with table salt from the kitchen as we just couldn't stand by and do nothing.

grrr.

[Two_Sheds]

we weren't allowed to put any grit down because in doing so we became somehow liable for any accidents.

Utterly, completely, bonkers.
So, did you instead have to put up a sign saying "Ice, beware it may be slippery"

[Hilary B]

Utterly, completely, bonkers.
So, did you instead have to put up a sign saying "Ice, beware it may be slippery"

As I understand the law, if you do nothing, you are in the clear, but if you do ANYTHING (that would include a sign I think) then you become liable for whatever consequences arise...... Maybe someone who has a better grasp of these things can clarify?

[SarzWix]

If you don't salt, then whatever happens is "nature" or "an act of God" in insurance terms. If you grit, but miss some or it doesn't fully melt, then you are liable. I can't get any compensation for the council not gritting the pavements when i broke my ankle, but if a few bits of grit had made it onto the path from the road, then they'd be liable... It's nothing to do with health & safety, and all down to whether someone can sue or not...

[janeyo]

So the lady who may have broken her wrist could sue cos there isn't any grit? But if there were grit she couldn't?

[SarzWix]

So the lady who may have broken her wrist could sue cos there isn't any grit? But if there were grit she couldn't?

No, she could sue if there was grit, but it hadn't worked properly. If there's no grit, then it's classed as an Act of God, and she can do nothing at all.

[Two_Sheds]

You can sue for pothole damage to your car, but not a broken wrist?
In fact, it's cheaper for councils to settle claims than it is for them to repair the roads

[willowstar]

madness isn't it? what about the human cost of people hurting themselves, the psychological damage to older people with little confidence on their legs anyway? the knock on costs of an older person breaking their hip and ending up in hospital for sometimes months at a time. makes me fume.

[SarzWix]

This is what you want - snow boots with retractable crampons... Alaska boots : black size 3½ - TEMPSL

[janeyo]

I had a call from the council. There are no plans or provisions to grit any pavements.

Great.