Putting salt down prevents freezing, the salt lowers the frezzing point of the water, the salt itself doesnt freeze.
I dpon't think that putting road salt down infers that it is going to freeze or that the surface is in anyway dangerous, it is merely ensuring that you are taking all possible precautions.
What about water lying on a sheltered spot where the floor is green with growth?
You know that when it is wet it will be very slippery.
whose fault is that?
The council for not removing this verdigris/algae whatever?
Or yours for knowingly getting it wet and therefore making it dangerous to walk on?
An arguement can be made for both cases.
Road salt works, chuck it down prior to cleaning for best effect.
There is also someone either selling, or about to sell, a product for spraying onto paths similar to the defrost stuff that you spray on your car windscreen.
Still trying to find out about that though
Regards,
Ian