At what point do you send staff home if it snows?
- Thread starter HFE Signs
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You need to do a quick risk assessment. How are people travelling? Is public transport still running? Does anyone live somewhere less easy to access in the snow? Are there any warnings not to travel?
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several years ago i walked home ( 2hours) as did staff when snow hit Reading unexpectedly, buses stopped and roads clogged., Just told people we would expect them late the following day as they would be dependant upon public transport (cars stuck at work) and they wouldnt be penalised
Only person who went early was someone who had to collect a child by a set time
Ought to mention next day I rode my gpz900r home through the frozen slush so i am not the best at risk assessments
Only person who went early was someone who had to collect a child by a set time
Ought to mention next day I rode my gpz900r home through the frozen slush so i am not the best at risk assessments
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Unless there are avalanche warnings, carry on as normal. In the area I am we had approx 1-2 inches max yesterday, sleet turning to rain today, already starting to clear.
Is there really bad snow in the UK, apart from mountain type areas high up, I doubt there has been too much. I am happy to be corrected since I do not follow the news.
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T
The Byre
Yes - get winter tyres and if you live in an area where snow is likely, get snow tyres and a set of chains.
In cold places like Russia, Scandinavia, Bavaria, Alaska, 48-ton trucks and regular cars are moving 365 days a year - but in England, two inches of snow and the news media hysterically scream of chaos and disruption.
The concept of winter seems too much for some people and the idea of being prepared for the possible onset of winter by having winter clothing, winter tyres and a house that is fully insulated comes as a shock to them - once a year and every year.
If you have a front-wheel-drive car, two winter tyres will do. Put them on a set of rims and keep them in the garage or shed and just pop them on when winter starts! Simples!
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You are ignoring the basic cost benefit analysis. Many people will never need winter tyres in this country. It is a large investment for something that may be used once or twice in 5 years.
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Indeed.
In Britain the cost/benefit analysis for investment in major snow clearing just does not stack up. We don't get enough bad snow to make it worthwhile.
It's just a shame so many people are too thick to understand this and continually moan about how we are so poor at coping compared to other countries.
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T
The Byre
Wrong. Tyres harden when cold, so even if there is no snow, you are driving on dangerously hard and slippery tyres, especially if it is just wet. For that reason, winter tyres are mandatory in many countries.
There is also (when talking about the cost/benefit) the cost of not being able to drive or of having an accident. Having an accident is far more expensive than two tyres and two rims.
And if you are running trucks or buses, a jack-knifed truck or just a van that gets stuck in snow costs real money. Yes, tyres cost money and truck tyres cost real money, but one buys them once, uses them for short while in winter and keeps them for several years on spare rims.
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I remember that
We were let out of the office early, but it was too late - took 2 hours to move less than a mile, dumped the car in a pub car park and walked the rest of the way home! I remember there were loads of cars dumped in reading that day!
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Agreed, I’m only worried about them getting to work.
Many years ago I had a 40 mile office commute. Woke up to six inches of snow, set off an hour early, got to the office first, as always. Come 9am my phone started ringing from the locals saying they couldn’t come into work, it had snowed.
I pointed out I had managed a 40 mile trip and got there on time, and anyone not in within half an hour I would accept that as their resignation. Everyone managed to get in.
That was 30 years ago when it used to snow a few inches quite regular.
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We were on greyfriars rd and the buses were using the kerb to slow their descent. Took me until 10pm to actually get home after buying the last hoodie in Primark - but that was due to stopping at 3 pubs en route, so actual walking was 2 hrs. Worst bit causing the gridlock on the East was the small rise just above the shops on Wiokingham rd, a minibus had stoppen and been abandoned by what was a garage there. Slowing to go around that on the steepest part of the hill was defeating most vehicles but a group of guys were individually pushing them upI remember that
Next day I stupidly decided to on my way home drop a bottle of wine to a client on the uni campus, so set off from town on a motorbike on still very iffy roads. Was bearable until i turned into the campus and realised it was shut (as no tracks in the virgin snow) but I couldn't dare stop or turn so had to slowly chug along from Shinfield rd entrance all the way to pepper lane entrance.
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I work from home. If my business was set up in an office, I would definitely be checking on travel. If trains have stopped - I would not be asking my staff to come in.
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I got stuck on a bad patch one morning, a few years ago, on a hill in High Wycombe. The guy behind was most impressed when I got the bag of sand and a shovel out of the boot, cleared a few feet of snow, threw down some sand and got us going again.
On another occasion, after spending two hours driving around trying to find an open route over the Chilterns, east of the M40, I declared off, returned home and phoned in and left a voivemail to say I would not be in due to the snow, not realising my boss was in sunny California.
On another occasion, after spending two hours driving around trying to find an open route over the Chilterns, east of the M40, I declared off, returned home and phoned in and left a voivemail to say I would not be in due to the snow, not realising my boss was in sunny California.
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T
The Byre
That is short-termism!
Look at it this way - let's say that two tyres cost £150 fitted and you pay a further £50 for one extra spare-wheel rim. So £200 - and you keep them for ten years. That is hardly what I would call a major expense per annum. If you have a full-spec spare, use that tyre for the next replacement and save £70. So now it's just £130 for ten years of winter tyres!
A cheap alternative is to drive on all-season tyres and buy a pair of snow chains for £50. Throw them into the spare wheel pit and forget about them until that day when you just cannot otherwise drive.
Doing nothing is the expensive option!
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There's a business opportunity here for entrepreneurial forum members neck deep in snow.?
Todays sporting headline:
Now I reckon about 6 buckets will come to a cubic metre and apart from labour it's pretty much free, most have got their own shovel and you get fit at the same time. All we have to do is get it to Italy.?
Here's the full story: https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1134539/italy-snow-crisis-milan-cortina-2026
Todays sporting headline:
Italy facing snow crisis three years before Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
The issue is not just the lack of snow but the cost of producing artificial snow with prices rising from $2 per cubic metre to as high as $7.Now I reckon about 6 buckets will come to a cubic metre and apart from labour it's pretty much free, most have got their own shovel and you get fit at the same time. All we have to do is get it to Italy.?
Here's the full story: https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1134539/italy-snow-crisis-milan-cortina-2026
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UK weather: Travel chaos and schools closed after heavy snow - BBC News
Seven-hour road delays have been reported in some areas, though conditions are expected to improve during the day.
www.bbc.co.uk
I realise the M62 crosses the Pennines, but it is a road that is extensively used and gritted in bad weather.
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UK weather: Travel chaos and schools closed after heavy snow - BBC News
Seven-hour road delays have been reported in some areas, though conditions are expected to improve during the day.
I realise the M62 crosses the Pennines, but it is a road that is extensively used and gritted in bad weather.
90% of the time these closures are down to bad driving, the UK drivers are not experienced enough. Just drove my daughter to her school 15 miles away in a heavy snowfall whilst falling, only 1-2“ on the ground, in her Corsa.
Drove 30-40mph both ways, only to be told as I parked up, they have closed her school since parents cannot get to it LOL. Not even 2” of snow anywhere. Any excuse.
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Winter tyres or narrow wheels.UK weather: Travel chaos and schools closed after heavy snow - BBC News
Seven-hour road delays have been reported in some areas, though conditions are expected to improve during the day.
I realise the M62 crosses the Pennines, but it is a road that is extensively used and gritted in bad weather.
i used to live at the top of a steep hill, I passed many a BMW (rear wheel drive with fat tryres) in our Nissan Figaro.
Get to work.
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Investing in a set of premium winter tires is a wise decision that not only reduces risk but also increases safety on the road. By purchasing 4 premium winter tires for £100 each, along with 4 steel rims for £80 each and a £20 changeover fee per season, the total cost for 9 seasons comes to only £97 per year. This investment in your safety is worth far more than the cost, as it significantly reduces the risk of accidents and endangers the lives of others.
It's important to note that any summer road tire under 7 degrees performs poorly and can increase stopping distance, which puts everyone at risk. Investing in winter tires is an investment in the safety of all those on the road regardless of laws and req.
Premium winter tires can last up to 9 seasons, and even better news is that we can shave off an additional 30% by purchasing non-branded options. It's not a question of whether winter tires are required by law, it's about making a wise investment to decrease risk significantly.
I value people’s life a lot and happy to spend £90 plus a year to ensure I stop Infront of a pedestrian or other car. If the argument is made people cant afford that that they should not own a car to start of with
Been driving all day long in a rear wheel high powered 600HP car with winter tires with no issues in several inches of snow. Proper training, confidence and equipment make driving cars in the UK a summer walk.
As someone who has driven in snowy conditions in Switzerland and Canada, I can attest to the importance of proper training, confidence, and equipment. Investing in premium winter tires is a small price to pay for the peace of mind and increased safety that comes with driving with confidence in winter conditions.
Are you driving on winter tires this season or do you think £95 of safety gear is too much?
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T
The Byre
If they are stored indoors in Summer, they can safely be used even longer than that - but ten years is the legal maximum for HGV and busses according to this -
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It varies with location. In parts of the Middle East tyre life is limited to 2 Years. The Date Code on the tyres is usually the first thing to be checked at the Annual Registration Test (Equivalent to MOT).If they are stored indoors in Summer, they can safely be used even longer than that - but ten years is the legal maximum for HGV and busses according to this -
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Been to Norway in December and Serbia in January. Half a meter of snow in both places still everyone goes to work, everyone goers to school, all public services running as usual, all airports open as usual, everything functioning like there isn’t any snow or cold. What’s wrong with this country? 1 inch of snow and it’s complete chaos , it’s just a joke
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Norway - 387,207 sq km, Population 5.4 million = 38 people per square mile.
United Kingdom -246,610 sq km, Population 67 million = 700 people per square mile.
The harsh reality is that a bit of snow causes chaos just as a simple road accident does here in the UK because there are too many people and too many vehicles on the road.
Norway has nearly 4 times the snow that we do so preparation is a much higher priority.
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We don't have enough snow here for us to learn prepare and react
It is just not worth the time and money .
The last time I was effected by snowy issues was 2018 before that it was 2010
Those of us in the the South were not effected at all by this weeks weather event so snow training, snow boots ,snow tyres and 4x4s would be a waste.
That said this has been the worst winter I known for ice in Devon
Tyres I put Cross climates on a large van and a set on a car
They are usless on the van but good on the front wheel drive car
It is just not worth the time and money .
The last time I was effected by snowy issues was 2018 before that it was 2010
Those of us in the the South were not effected at all by this weeks weather event so snow training, snow boots ,snow tyres and 4x4s would be a waste.
That said this has been the worst winter I known for ice in Devon
Tyres I put Cross climates on a large van and a set on a car
They are usless on the van but good on the front wheel drive car
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