Health and Safety - when it suits!

[Ann]

In these times when even a harmless game of conkers is frowned upon in case someone gets hurt (ridiculous!) how would H&S explain that it is OK for our local council to switch all our street lights off from midnight with these freezing, treacherous conditions on our pavements (which have not been gritted) Could people sue the council if they fell over? Its bad enough in the daytime when you can see where you are putting your feet, but at night it must be lethal. Can the powers that be not use their judgement (but no the council is stupid!) and leave the lights on during the very icy nights where snow is also a hazard. I wouldn't wish harm on anyone but would love to know what would happen if someone in our town fell and broke their leg and tried to sue! As it said in the paper today it does make us prisoners in our own homes..... we are thinking of going to a concert which finishes around 11.30pm a few miles away but the thought of getting out of our car in the street and braving it across the pavement in the pitch dark, even with a torch, fills me with dread!

[ChuckFickens]

"but the thought of getting out of our car in the street and braving it across the pavement in the pitch dark, even with a torch, fills me with dread!"

I'm so sorry to hear you can't brave walking in the dark with a torch! complicated things like using a knife to eat must be a real danger too!

[Ann]

Don't be sarcastic Chuck - we are in our 60s, I have very dodgy knees and I'm talking about the present conditions where the heaps of snow on the pavements have turned to ice.

[Ann]

PS Do you perhaps work for my local council ;)

[chelle7272]

I thought the lights weren't turned off until after midnight anyway

[Hopkirk]

Leave your outside light on, and buy a bigger torch.

[kariah]

H&S/Government/Councils, bah! Its all about cutting our facilities but increasing the taxes they take!

[ChuckFickens]

Sorry, that was excessively sarcastic...

But you have just stated on another thread

"We have been saying the same this week, I can't ever remember being sent home or allowed a day off. At our Grammar School, in the early 60s, the heating broke down in freezing temps and we all congregated in various halls for exercises to keep warm! and yes - we walked through snowdrifts to get there too...... but thought it was great! "

And now you're complaining about walking across a pavement with only a torch.... what happened to the get on with it regardless attitude you used to have?

[Ann]

Haha Chuck - its called "old age and infirmity!" you wait, it may suddenly creep up on you! :) My school days were nearly 60 yrs ago .........

[kariah]

They're in their 60's now

[ChuckFickens]

So the teachers you had at school (many of whom where probably close to retirement age) shouldn't of tried to get to work in adverse conditions?

[hc4361]

The night is a lot lighter when there is snow lying.
I suggest you be sensible - use a walking stick, wear sturdy shoes and use a good torch.
If driving conditions are treacherous due to the weather, no concert is worth driving to, regardless of your age, health or street lighting.

No, you couldn't sue the council if you fall over because of snow in the dark.

[Maydup]

I hope to goodness that no-one would be successful if they sued the council. What has the world come to?

I sympathise about going out in the snow and the dark, but its not anyone's "fault".

Could you treat yourselves to a taxi door to door? It would save you missing the concert or taking unecessry risks. If not offer your tickets to someone else or resell them at the Box Office.

Whatever you do, keep safe and on two feet.

[Ann]

Oh per-leese folks! Wish I'd not started this thread, I haven't fallen or tried to sue anyone, I never would, I just wondered what would happen. Is everyone grumpy tonight :(

[Maydup]

Well I thought you were the grumpy one! Moaning about the council switching off lights, asking what would happen if someone sued them and not wanting to go out in the dark!

Off to your concert with you and try not to sing along too loud, someone might think you're a dotty old biddy!

[EDDIE51]

The opposite of what you are asking is actually the truth . If the council DID grit the pavements and someone still fell over they could sue the council for damages. But if the council do nothing then the snow and ice is 'an act of God' and they can not be sued. For the same reason you should not clear the footpath outside your home, if you do clear it but someone still manages to fall over they can sue you, but leave it as it was and it is a act of God and you are in the clear.
We had deep snow here yesterday but it has virtually all melted now the rest willbe gone tomorrow. Street lights are run and operated by the council , who do you think are 'the powers that be' and how are they supposed to decide which lights to switch on or off and when?

[EDDIE51]

Just been looking at your past questions, you say the street lights are going off from 12.30 am ! The concert finishes at 11.30 that gives you an hour to get the 'few miles' home and over the pavement before the lights go out, should not be a problem even if you are over 60. I'm 61 myself by the way.
Do you have a light over the front door in the porch ? I do and leaving that on lights up the path right out to the road. Most houses have the same so just leave the light on. Ours is just a low energy 8watt bulb but it is easily bright enough and costs pennies a year to run. No need for street lights.

[bednobs]

it sounds like street lights wouldn't make any difference to you anyway - it's the snow and ice you're worried about, not the light. The weather isn't the council's fault.

[naomi24]

We don't have any street lights at all. The people here seem to manage.

[Zacs-Master]

What would happen if someone sued would be that you council tax would rise and then you would be on here complaining about that.