Getting to the nitty gritty of keeping our roads safe

With a grin etched across his face, Dougie Paterson tells of the satisfaction in knowing he is part of a team helping keep the county’s roads safe for others.

“I live here and many of my family and friends are here – of course I want to make sure the roads are as clear and safe as they can be when there’s snow or ice,” he says.

Dougie has worked for the Council for 19 years, 17 of those as a gritter driver – ditcher – grass cutter – general and emergency repairs – the list goes on.

He’s one of a team of more than 30 who can turn their hand to gritting and all manner of other works on the roads.

They all have a role to play – whether that’s in the duty control room, monitoring the forecast and gathering the information needed to make decisions, to ensuring the equipment in the stores is ready, to the garage mechanics who keep the machines running, those who clear the footpaths and the drivers themselves.

Most of the operational staff work on a week on- week off rota for the winter maintenance season.

The days can be long – from 6am to 6pm – and the conditions can be treacherous, but there’s a camaraderie that keeps them going.

Knowing the vast majority of the public is behind them really does make a difference, Dougie goes on.

“It was pretty bad at times in the past; you could get folk driving up to you waving a fist, sometimes overtaking the gritter but thankfully that is less nowadays – it does still happen but not as much. Most folk are supportive of what we do and that really does help.”

As well as the gritters, there are JCBs and tractors on hand to assist when need be.

The drivers are up at the crack of dawn and often the first on the roads. So how do they get to work safely?

“At the moment I travel in the work pick up and take some salt home with me. You make sure you drive to the conditions and take it easy.”

The rock salt laden gritters then head out to their allocated destinations and the drivers report back to the duty officers at the Hatston depot on the conditions they are facing. Treatments can vary depending on what the driver reports back – forecasts are pretty good nowadays, but they don’t always get it spot on and the drivers are experienced and have the local know how.

There is a perception among some that salt on the roads means it’s safe. The salt takes 10-20 minutes to activate and even then requires traffic to help break down the snow and ice.

Black ice has been a much bigger challenge in Orkney in recent years – snow falls are relatively thin on the ground.

If he was a betting man, Dougie says his chips would be going on the second week in March for snow – traditionally known as lambing snow.

“I don’t know what it is about that time of year in particular but it has happened many times over the years.”

He also recalls some pretty incredible falls – one in Birsay some time ago when the snow was higher than the roof of a portable building in parts. There’s nothing anyone can do in those situations other than sit it out somewhere safe.

The nature of the job is that you are on call and you are never 100 per cent sure when you will get the call.

“I’ve been tucking into a Christmas dinner before and the phone has rung – it’s a case of drop everything and go. That can be a bit tough on the family as well.”

What’s the best bit out the job? “Seeing the snow melting” he laughs. “We are often the first folk out and seeing Orkney turn white is pretty special and it doesn’t happen often but on the really bonny days when you are out and the canopy opens up and you see all the stars above, that’s also something you don’t forget. There is a feeling of satisfaction knowing you have helped as well.”