Ice, Frost and Snow Clearance
On the Health & Safety Website it says…
Ice, Frost and Snow
“To reduce the risk of slips on ice, frost or snow, you need to assess the risk and put in a system to manage it.” This is often in the form of a grounds maintenance company such as ourselves dealing with the snow clearing and gritting.
1. “Identify the outdoor areas used by pedestrians most likely to be affected by ice, for example: – building entrances, car parks, pedestrian walkways, shortcuts, sloped areas and areas constantly in the shade or wet.”
2. “Monitor the temperature, as prevention is key.”
· You need to take action whenever freezing temperatures are forecast. Keep up to date by visiting a weather service site
3. “Put a procedure in place to prevent an icy surface forming.
· Use grit (see separate article below for more detail) or similar, on areas prone to be slippery in frosty, icy conditions.”
As you can see as a responsible Shop owner, Factory manager, Householder or someone else with members of the public or a workforce coming on your paths drives and car parks you need to contact us for salt gritting and snow clearance immediately. This will mean you have taken all precautionary actions you can and therefore cannot be accounted liable if someone falls or trips over on any snow or ice!
Gritting – the Pros and Cons
One method we usually employ to de-ice paths drives and car-parks is to use grit/rock salt. This is relatively cheap, as it is easy to spread. Rock salt is the most common uses salt and is used by most councils and the highway agency.
Salt will stop ice forming and cause existing ice or snow to melt depending on the temperature. It is at its most effective when it is mixed into the snow and ice either with foot traffic or vehicular traffic.
As a general guide we at Blue Iris Landscapes, put down on car parks a rate of approximately 10-15gms/m2 for precautionary salting and 20-40gms/m2 during ice and snow conditions is recommended.
The HSE website says; “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 the 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.”
If you require any snow clearance or gritting, please don’t hesitate to contact us.