Slippery problem for postmen

[DGP1]

Norbert...it's not big & it's not clever ( but it is funny )

I think it's quite big

[turkeyboy]

sorry lads but i never clear my path when it snows ,as i understand it if you leave your path covered in snow and someone falls over i am ok ,if you clear the snow and someone goes down i then become liable for any injuries sustained besides if the paths are slippery sod the mail move onto the next house

[johnsouthwales]

sometimes it is common sense to leave the snow alone as it acts as an absorber to the ice underneath. removing the snow will only just leave exposed solid ice... however, as the days have passed and temperatures consistent, has turned the snow in many areas into further ice in many areas but other areas are safer to walk on as they remain consistent. different areas have different exposures to daylight sun as you may well know.

shame on all councils failing to act and put the public in jeapardy. not an ounce of grit until it is far too late.

only one word springs to mind.. negligent.

actually, these council salt bins are often empty. and the amount stored in them is pityful and totally useless in this type of condition.

the only thing councils up and down the country can do is a gritting exercise, which leaves residential areas untouched, as it is common that main routes and areas close to shops take priority...if they do it as gritting is putting the council workers at a health and safety risk.. all too often seen is a council van and trailer, one or two shovels full scattered at random and they're off

[norbert]

Norbert...it's not big & it's not clever ( but it is funny )

I think it's quite big

might have modelled it on Omar the Postman

the culprits

" made this with my bruv n his girlfriend we live opposite! took us jus over two hours! finished about 1am! we had such a laff makin it! freezin tho! cold n wet! but well worth the wait haha! sum kid trashed it n ran off! i'll have to up load pics ov us makin it! any ways made quite a few people giggle! adult humour cant fault it! x "

By Sama Harrison http://www.flickr.com/photos/45842798@N03/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
links if anyone wants to Twitter them - might need Tiny URL
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[norbert]

The other one & Sama
http://www.flickr.com/photos/45842798@N03/4210182656/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TrueBlueTerrier]

sorry lads but i never clear my path when it snows ,as i understand it if you leave your path covered in snow and someone falls over i am ok ,if you clear the snow and someone goes down i then become liable for any injuries sustained besides if the paths are slippery sod the mail move onto the next house

This is actually a common misconception.

You as a land owner (or resident) of a property have the responsibility to clear paths on your own property. If you have not and the postman, milkman, paper boy slips (or any visitor) and falls and can prove you have not made reasonable efforts to mitigate a slip hazard (ie cleared snow and ice) then you can be sued. If you did make reasonable attempts then you are safe.

The bit that most people confuse the relevant laws with is if you clear any public footpath even on your property and someone slips then they can sue you if you did not clear it properly and therefore because you cleared it you have accepted the responsibility. This is different because you already have responsibility to clear a path on any of your own land and not on others.

Sources:

http://www.economicvoice.com/the-law-in ... z0cHXFCMVz" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The law should be the other way around. You get sued if it can be proved you made no attempt to clear the pavement. That would then mirror the case of when the postman or milkman etc slips in your garden or driveway, because you can at present be liable for not clearing it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3453039.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Lord Davies said: "No householder is at all responsible, providing they do not touch the pavement, which is owned by the local authority."

''The Occupiers Liability Act (1984)
which I am told is still in force.

Private landowners are not obliged to clear snow or ice from the highway, even if the road or pavement passes over their land. Indeed, from a legal point of view it may be risky for private individuals to clear these areas. By sweeping snow from one part of the pavement you can create a danger in another area and if someone is injured, you will be liable for negligence or nuisance.
On commercial property, it is a different matter. You owe visitors & customers a duty under the Occupiers Liability Act 1984 to take reasonable care to ensure that they are reasonably safe. This means that if you know someone (such as a customer) is likely to walk up your path, and you also know that the path is slippery, you must take reasonable steps to clear the path of snow and grit it if necessary.

http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/1 ... -clearing/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Your local authority is responsible for clearing snow and ice from the public highway and pavement. Under Section 41(1A) of the Highways Act 1980, the council must ensure that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice. If the local authority fails to act, you can apply to the magistrates’ court under the same legislation for an order to unblock the highway within a reasonable period – although such orders are very rare indeed.

Private landowners are not obliged to clear snow or ice from the highway, even if the road or pavement passes over their land. Indeed, from a legal point of view it may be risky for private individuals to clear these areas. By sweeping snow from one part of the pavement you can create a danger in another area and if someone is injured, you will be liable for negligence or nuisance.

On your own land, it is a different matter. You owe visitors a duty under the Occupiers Liability Act 1984 to take reasonable care to ensure that they are reasonably safe. This means that if you know someone (such as the postman) is likely to walk up your garden path, and you also know that the garden path is slippery, you must take reasonable steps to clear the path of snow and grit it if necessary.

Property advice from the experts
However, you should not simply brush the snow from your path on to the public pavement. It is also a public nuisance to block the pavement of the road by sweeping snow from your property on to the highway.

Your neighbours are therefore quite right to clear their own paths, but are taking a legal risk in clearing the public pavement – no matter how public-spirited their actions may seem.

You can see where the confusion arises of course.

[turkeyboy]

well im sorry but my pathway to my house is i65 yards no way am i staying out there for hours ,as i said if you think the path is slippery sod the mail kill it off ,