Are 3.5 hour duties due to H&S

[realitybites]

Read a while ago that 3.5 hour were because of H&S regs. If this is so, when people are off out the door and doing things right, surely that means at LEAST half an hour spare and everyone should have reported back to the office?

[lekker]

No I don't think so. Walks are that time because it is the national agreement at the moment. All walks should be assessed under H&S for things like toilets stops and dangers. If there is a change to longer delivery times this really will have to be done which in many units does not happen at present.

[robd]

I don't really understand the original post,i presume the 30 mins your referring to,is actually conveyance time,which
should be built into your duty.
Overall time from leaving office to return is actually 4 hours,but from first to last letter is only 3hours 30mins,and yes
for health and safety all walks should be planned around this.

[realitybites]

Thanks, I was thinking along the lines of, as a specific example, I leave the office at 9.30, complete my 3.5 hours (and take break)and am done by 13.30. If my walk limit is 3.5 hours would I still have to absorb, making a total of 4 hours out on delivery?

[Big Daz]

The 3.5 hour span was agreed after trials involving 3 hr span, 4 hr span and 3 .5 hour span. It would be interesting to see the documentation from 2003 linked to those trials.

[realitybites]

Also, if that half hour for absorption was over the agreed 3 and a half hours could you therefore, theoretically, claim overtime, even though it would be completed withing your normal duty hours?

[robd]

Also, if that half hour for absorption was over the agreed 3 and a half hours could you therefore, theoretically, claim overtime, even though it would be completed withing your normal duty hours?

There is no half hour for absorption,there is a provision for 30 mins flexibility,but thats another issue.
it's very important to remember your times for leaving to commence delivery,first letter/last and finish time.
The only grey area,has been the interpretation of utilising paid hours,the union has argued all absorption should
be achievable within the 4 hour outdoor element,RM argue that because you are paid for 8 hours,if the indoor work
doesn't exist,you can leave early to take absorbtion,and theoretically you could be on delivery for longer.
remember on an ad hoc basis walks could take you beyond 3 hours 30 mins,the only time you should be able to claim
overtime is if you work beyond your contractual hours.
You need to check with your local rep,to determine whats been agreed as regards duty structures(long/shorts)and
what lapsing/absorbtion has been planned.

[realitybites]

The only grey area,has been the interpretation of utilising paid hours,the union has argued all absorption should
be achievable within the 4 hour outdoor element,RM argue that because you are paid for 8 hours,if the indoor work
doesn't exist,you can leave early to take absorbtion,and theoretically you could be on delivery for longer.

That is very interesting, I am on a 25 hour contract and therefore start at 9 (currently). The half hour you mention is a saving on indoor work time, theoretically allowing a longer delivery span. I am a reserve so am usually on 5 different walks a week, some I have never done before. It usually takes me a bit longer tying up. moreso on unknown walks, leaving me with 3 and a half hours (after break) to get to first delivery point, on to last letter and back in the office with undeliverables etc. I have had this argument with the dom already that I cannot manage to get absorption in during this time. He insists it is compulsory and that I have to do it.

[dblad]

Anybody know why subs are an hour longer..I can't see any reason why we should be