Health And Safety

[fruitsalad]

how about some health and safety rules when we are out and about on these treacherous icy pavements

[factor-fiction]

Rules? Things like you mustn't exceed 2 miles an hour or must have soles with a certain depth of tread?
I'm not sure what you mean, fruitsalad

[boxtops]

I don't know what you mean either - common sense should prevail, not rules :-(

[cazzz1975]

at least its short lived, temps rise to a tropical 5c on saturday, enough to melt the ice

[emmie]

such as?

[boxtops]

There's hardly any left here already!

[cazzz1975]

some places still have 10-20 inches on the ground boxy

[emmie]

much has gone on the main roads, but a lot of the pavements are slippery and rather dangerous, hence the need for my new spikes, not falling over again...

[ummmm]

Thick ice here.

[stewey]

It is illegal to use a snow-blower with the exhaust chute pointing directly at the operator.

[tonyav]

Still plenty where I live boxy.

[fruitsalad]

the schools close because incase someone hurts themselves in the bad weather the school could get sued or if a puddle of water was left in the middle of the supermarket and someone slipped the store would get sued, the councils or the highways dont seem bothered that the person who slips on the icy pavement and breaks a leg because they havent stocked the salt bins or gritted the pavement who would be held responsible

[emmie]

the local council, plenty of people sue them for broken pavements, ice, snow, and all sorts, if you don't believe me check out your local authority they usually have departments for that purpose, it's seems that clearing or mending the road, pavements isn't so cost effective as paying out monies to some of the less able to keep upright citizens.

[boxtops]

Yes, I know - we had a huge dump of snow over the weekend but that was it - it's gone almost as soon as it came. Everywhere else has been far worse off!

[factor-fiction]

Why would the council (i.e. taxpayers) be expected to pay if someone slips on an icy payment? The council didn't put the snow there or cause the low temperatures

[emmie]

because if they do not shovel the stuff out the way, and quickly you will find many people taking a fall, broken bones, or worse on the impacted ice. They do have an obligation to keep the ways clear, isn't that part of what the council tax is for. Our caretaker keeps the front clear, we wouldn't be allowed at any rate to clear it ourselves, having been told that some time back. It's cheaper in the long run for the authorities to pay out claims than to endlessly fix pavements, also told to us by someone at the council.

[Baldric]

Who are you looking to for advice, I assume you're a grown-up, although.....
What ever happened to being responsibile for one's own actions, looking where you're going, where you put your feet etc?

[boxtops]

Em, there was nobody we could claim from when OH broke his kneecap in a fall on the ice last year - it was a pure accident. There is no obligation on the council to keep pavements clear - people just need to use common sense and take care.

[emmie]

no one said they are responsible for the snow, but they are responsible for clearing leaves which can be just as dangerous, i know because i almost came a cropper on some back in the autumn... you couldn't avoid them either, as there were just too many

[cazzz1975]

how did the people in 1963 cope with icy and broken pavements?

[boxtops]

we walked with care.....