Winter observation

[karohemd]

Wow, I didn't think the snow would stick. It's absolutely glorious outside and I don't have a camera with me (I really need to keep at least the G10 in my backpack). All those wonderfully snow hedges, fences, lamposts etc. would make nice subjects. I don't think I've had really nice snow days like this in Germany in the last years.

What I find a little odd, especially in light of all the silly health and safety regulations out there, is that nobody is required to keep the pavement in front of their house clear of snow and ice. I guess there isn't a regulation because it's a rare occurence but it's still suprising (at least to someone from a snowy country).

Comments

[raggedhalo.livejournal.com]

The pavement belongs to the Council, not to the homeowner, and thus it's not a personal responsibility and can't be. Otherwise we'd also be responsible for pothole repair etc.

[raggedhalo.livejournal.com]

Also, which Health and Safety regulations do you think are silly?

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

The responsibilities are split in Germany. The council are responsible for the upkeep but you need to make sure it's safe.

[fractalgeek.livejournal.com]

It's often considered to be the other way arond - if you
clear it and someone slips, it is you fault. Leave it alone, and it remains the council's.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's even worse! o_O

[sea-of-flame.livejournal.com]

Walking through snow is fairly safe, albeit soggy. Even if the snow squashes into ice, bootpronts tend to mean it's not too slick.

Unless a pavement is swept very thorougly, the remnant tends to melt & re-freeze into a smooth sheet of ice...add in how a lot of people don't have really heavy-duty grips on their footwear, and you've got a recipe for disaster.

I do clear ours, but it's a case of using a shovel & then elbow-grease with a yard broom until the pavement is actually clear/dry.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

I know how snow works.
What I meant is that I find it ridiculous that if you do make an effort you can get the blame.

[neophyte-13.livejournal.com]

it's the same as if I as a first aider offer help to someone and they refuse it I'm not allowed to help them. If I don't offer help and they die I can be held responsible for not offering help if it's found that I'm a trained first aider. If I mess something up if they do accept my help and that messing up leads to them getting worse instead of better I'm also responsible.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Screwed!

[susanofstohelit.livejournal.com]

wow, that doesn't make sense to me at all. admittedly I grew up and still live somewhere where we've gotten 8 inches of snow in the last week and a half.

in my city the property owner or designated representative is responsible for clearing the snow from all sidewalks, including curb cuts if it's a corner lot, within 24 hours of the time it stops snowing. if someone complains, the city clears the snow and bills the owner. in a wonderfully passive-aggressive midwestern twist, they also offer door hangers that can be left at neighbor's houses to remind them about the law.