Keeping paths and roads safe in winter is no easy task

SDU's gardeners work hard during the winter season to keep paths and roads passable so that employees and students can travel safely on all SDU's paths and roads.

 

But it's not an easy task, and unfortunately, failures in the fight against slippery conditions cannot be completely ruled out, both because the warnings are not always accurate and because technical or human error can occur.

 

Henrik Toft is coordinator for the gardeners in Technical Services, and he explains that SDU is notified by Odense Municipality when they assess that salting is necessary.

 

– We usually start salting around 4-5 o'clock in the morning, so we can reach all areas and make sure that it's not slippery when most people start arriving at 7.30am. This also means that if you arrive on campus or leave campus before 7.30 in the morning, you need to be extra careful because there will be a greater risk of slippery roads and paths.

 

Henrik Toft continues:

 

– But occasionally the temperature drops more than expected, typically just after sunrise, and there can suddenly be patches of ice in exposed areas. We've experienced this a few times, and unfortunately it has led to a couple of cycling accidents. So if you experience slippery conditions, give us a call and we'll come and apply salt.