As we’ve already mentioned, if you own or occupy private land, you are responsible for ensuring that it can be safely accessed by staff and visitors. It is also recommended to re-grit the surface in the evening, not only in advance of peak traffic flows as staff and visitors leave for the day, but also to prevent the ice from re-freezing as evening temperatures fall.

Employers have a duty of care to their employees and customers that might be at risk from hazards and risks related to the employer’s activities. In the case of ice and snow both employees and 3 rd parties (i.e. customers) may need to cross from the public highway onto the Employer’s property where there might be snow, ice or both. A failure to identify this as a risk may leave the employer exposed and employees or 3 rd parties at risk of slipping.The Traffic Management Act 2004 (England) requires authorities to do all that is reasonably practicable to manage the network effectively to keep traffic moving. In meeting the duty, authorities should establish contingency plans for dealing promptly and effectively with unplanned events, such as unforeseen weather conditions, as far as is reasonably practicable. Yes. Salt will work at temperatures down to minus 8-10 degrees C. Below that temperature salted roads will still freeze.

It all depends on how much snow and ice we have, and how long it lasts. This year, temperatures up to December have been relatively mild and gritting has mainly been limited to upland areas. The severe and early cold during November 2010 saw councils use as much salt as they would do in an average winter – roughly 300,000 tonnes. And throughout all of last winter, 1.2 million tonnes was used. Section 150 puts a responsibility on the highway authority to clear snow from the highway, but only if it is causing an obstruction. The Department for Transport carries out regular audits of local authorities to monitor salt levels. However in prolonged periods of snowfall the snow can fall at a rate faster than the grit can mix with the snow, which, means the snow may accumulate. Accumulated snow will have to be ploughed away from the roads or cleared in the pedestrian areas, but this is made much easier by grit spread in advance of the snowfall as the grit already applied reduces the likelihood of the snow freezing on the surface. Given the scale of financial and other resources involved in delivering the Winter Service it is not reasonable either to – provide the service on all parts of the network; ensure running surfaces are kept free of ice or snow at all times, even on the treated parts of the network.Salt can stop ice forming and cause existing ice or snow to melt. It is most effective when it is ground down, but this will take far longer on pedestrian areas than on roads. Each year, approximately 1,000 people in the UK are killed or seriously injured on icy or snow covered roads. It is most effective to distribute grit early in the morning. This is because it’s not only much easier to remove fresh, loose snow but gritting in the morning will ensure the ground is ready ahead of early morning traffic or pedestrians.

UK Roads Liaison Group – 'Well-maintained Highways: Code of Practice for Highways Maintenance and Management (2009)' in the middle of the night and on roads with fewer vehicles, as traffic is needed to turn salt into de-icing solution In this blog post, we’ll be getting down to the ‘nitty gritty’ of keeping your business premises safe this year, and explain the correct way to grit your paths or road using the right equipment from our Winter Products range. What is grit, and how does it work?Gritting should be carried out when frost, ice or snow is forecast or when walkways are likely to be damp or wet and the floor temperatures are at, or below freezing. The best times are early in evening before the frost settles and/or early in the morning before employees arrive. Salt doesn't work instantly; it needs sufficient time to dissolve into the moisture on the floor. No. The grit doesn't directly melt snow as it firstly has to mix with the snow to form a saline solution and lower the melting point. If snow is predicted, grit is spread in advance so when the first snow falls it can start to mix with grit to create a saline solution, which can reduce the build up (accumulation) of snow and prevent the formation of ice. It’s always wise to keep a close eye on the weather forecasts. Rain will soon wash away all the grit before it can make any kind of impact, so be on the lookout for grey clouds before you get to work! Safety doesn’t end at the front door Over 2 million tonnes of grit is spread onto the UK roads each year. The majority is spread onto motorways, trunk roads and main roads. Less than a third of other roads are treated. Department for Infrastructure (DfI) road gritting staff are on standby 24 hours a day to monitor and react according to the weather conditions.