The purpose of gritting and salting

We may not be prone to having white winters but precautions should be carried out in order to prepare for the worst. Gritting and salting the footpaths and roads will reduce accidents in the work place, in public and at home. By law local authorities have to ensure “so far as is reasonably practical… safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice”.

Many are still sceptical over the effectiveness of rock salt and grit so we have provided facts and figures to help justify the spreading of it on our major roads.

Rock salt is the mineral form of sodium chloride and due to its high salt content it has a lower freezing point than water.

Once placed on snow or ice it acts as a solute which then decreases the freezing point of the solvent.

Most of the rock salt mined in the UK comes from the North including the surrounding areas of Cheshire as well as Teeside and County Antrim in Ireland.

Councils ordered about 1.3 million tonnes of salt ahead of the gritting season last winter. This year there has been more preparation ahead of time to ensure the quantity of salt in stock[1].

It is thought that the budget for winter maintenance is around £160 million but without this necessary service, unprepared roads and traffic accidents could cost the government up to £2 million.

Here at PS Marsden, we have the equipment you need to protect your employees, the public and your family. Our rock salt is perfect for helping to melt snow and ice on your roads, footpaths and drives.

The 20kg bag is fairly priced allowing you to buy more as you need. The Supaturf range will help disperse your rock salt and grit evenly for maximum coverage and is suitable for use with rock salt, processed salt and Vitax Ice Free.

For information on any of our winter maintenance products, or for guidance on how to get the best out of the equipment you purchase please contact us.

[1] http://www.local.gov.uk/community-safety/-/journal_content/56/10180/3510492/ARTICLE