THE world has officially gone mad. And if you don’t think so now, read on, and see if I can convince you.

It all started the other day when my boss at JACK FM purchased a trailer load of salt to clear the pathway to our door.

We were all ready to do out bit to combat the cold, when someone piped up with “I don’t think we can spread salt, what if it melts, then refreezes and somebody slips over? I think they can sue us”.

What a ridiculous, stupid, statement I thought. Quick to dispel this clearly unfounded myth I took legal advice from my trusty friend Mr Google.

After a few minutes in his company I did indeed discover several government advisory websites that state if you follow ‘the snow code’ and clear paths responsibly it is unlikely you would be sued in such an event.

‘Phew’ I thought. Then a little voice inside my head said ‘unlikely’? As in not likely to happen, but in actual fact could possibly occur? Damn you little voice in my head. More googling ensued.

And there it came… a story this week regarding a warning from a group called the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. (Just me? Or does anyone else visualise their office as having padded walls with no sharp objects?) I digress; the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health is indeed warning us all that it is wise to only clear snow and ice up to the boundaries of the property under our control. Because, of course, if someone does slip over on a public path you or I have cleared out of the kindness and generosity of our hearts, we indeed may be sued.

One legal expert even suggests not doing any clearing because after all “if you do nothing you cannot be liable”.

Imagine if that was the motto we all lived by?

I’d have to avoid washing my car, just in case someone slipped in the water. Acts like carrying parcels up to my neighbour’s door would have to stop. I mean what if they tripped over the box on the way out the door? Putting my hand out to help that little old lady up on to the bus would also be a thing of the past.

If she slipped and fell, my pension fund would end up buying her a new plastic hip. Pretty much every act of kindness or generosity is going to have to stop.

I can’t believe I’ve never considered the legal minefield of making my workmates a cup of tea or coffee in the morning. What if I accidentally gave the guy who uses sweetener real sugar? Or gave the dairy intolerant person real milk instead of soy? Or, worse still, what if someone scalded themselves on a drink I’d made?

I’m off to ask the boss for a hot drink thermometer. In writing of course; I need to make sure there is a clear paper trail in case any legal situation arises.