Thanks for taking the weight off my shoulder.

[mailmonkey]

Ha, yeah..

I'm in feckin agony after doing 3 days this week on the new P&L revised routes.

dragging a trolley up and down hills and steps feels like a ball and chain, I'm getting aches where I never had them before, back pain, and much more tired.

Previously our walks were planned/evolved over years by posties, and were downhill, using bags, with appropriate bagdrops, which were amended when required. This was achievable.

Just because you're taking the weight offf our shoulders (and doubling it) doesn't mean it's better for us.

Up hills, double the load, poor terrain, steps etc, no, it's much worse.

[DirtyHarry]

In 2003 after the butchery that was SDD, more changes to the way we do our jobs were always going to be to our detriment.

Middle class management must stop trying to bang in a round peg, in to a square hole. It won't work. It will never work. And management will force ill-health on people.

[skull]

Ha, yeah..

I'm in feckin agony after doing 3 days this week on the new P&L revised routes.

dragging a trolley up and down hills and steps feels like a ball and chain, I'm getting aches where I never had them before, back pain, and much more tired.

Previously our walks were planned/evolved over years by posties, and were downhill, using bags, with appropriate bagdrops, which were amended when required. This was achievable.

Just because you're taking the weight offf our shoulders (and doubling it) doesn't mean it's better for us.

Up hills, double the load, poor terrain, steps etc, no, it's much worse.

I'm the total opposite . Since swapping bags for a trolley my back problem isn't anywhere near as bad . When using bags I would be in pain at least 1 day a week . Since I've been using a trolley it's flaired up twice in four months . Some posties might experience achs and pains from setting up and pulling a trolley but I think on the whole the health benefits for the majority will be a massive step forward . Hopefully for you it might just be muscular and will ease when you get to used to using a trolley .

[mailmonkey]

How is your terrain?

Our office is a small coastal town, all roads lead down into the town and sea front, some very very steep hills, lots of steps.

We were always accelerated to the top of town where walks began, and all walks headed down into town.

The computer says all walks start in town, and work their way up to the outskirts.

A couple of times this week I've almost been tempted to film some of these hills, and colleagues dragging trolleys full of mail up 20-30 steps.

Security of mail is beuing HEAVILY compromised, lots of houses with 30-40+ steps leading to front door, trolley stays at bottom? It's out of site and a security risk, or are wee supppoesed to drag the bstrds up every flight?

On our terrain, trolleys uphill are worse than bags on shoulder downhill.

[skull]

How is your terrain?

Our office is a small coastal town, all roads lead down into the town and sea front, some very very steep hills, lots of steps.

We were always accelerated to the top of town where walks began, and all walks headed down into town.

The computer says all walks start in town, and work their way up to the outskirts.

A couple of times this week I've almost been tempted to film some of these hills, and colleagues dragging trolleys full of mail up 20-30 steps.

Security of mail is beuing HEAVILY compromised, lots of houses with 30-40+ steps leading to front door, trolley stays at bottom? It's out of site and a security risk, or are wee supppoesed to drag the bstrds up every flight?

On our terrain, trolleys uphill are worse than bags on shoulder downhill.

It does have some hilly areas but no steps . Wouldn't your area come under the exception where you can still use a bag ? . The picture I've painted in my mind of your place is like beautiful Dartmouth and I couldn't imagine using a trolley around some parts of that town .

[maisymoo04]

whats with the pullin trolley up steps i hope not

[clashcityrocker]

whats with the pullin trolley up steps i hope not

And you are not supposed to use trolleys on steep hills either.

[mailmonkey]

whats with the pullin trolley up steps i hope not

And you are not supposed to use trolleys on steep hills either.

You are in our town, our manager is a stickler for the rules, an anal retentive.

And yeah, we're not far from Dartmouth, similar, but even hillier, whole town rolls down the hill and spills onto the estuary.

Trolleys seem to slide down hills when you let go of them too.

[Himaggen]

You do not need to take the bloody thing everywhere with you.

Generally, (that is with a low risk security assessment), you can leave your trolley unattended for up to one minute at a time with just the bags buckled shut. Other than that you can move up to fifteen metres away from the trolley too.

If the duty terrain assessment indicates that it is steep/uneven or you have delivery points which cannot be accessed without the trolley being left for longer than documented then other arrangements should be made.

[mailmonkey]

Most of our P&L routes involve routinely leaving trollies unattended for WELL over a minute at a time, OR dragging them up steps, up steep hills, up pavements too narrow for them, or parking them onslopes where they can just slide off.

our local rep and dep rep repeatedly brought these issues up with management and area/div level CWU, who have taken no notice of these issues, and introduced the revisions over our local rep's head.

Testers who tested the P&L duties also brought these issues up with management, area management, area/div CWU reps, again, ignored.

Revision duties brought in with the blessing of area/div reps and over and above our local rep's wishes, and members' wishes.

So yeah, Himmagen, we might not be meant to do all this, but it's been brought in, and our complaints are being ignored. Where do you suggest we go next?

[clashcityrocker]

Maybe if one (or several) of the trolleys were to slide down the hill and into the estuary there might be a rethink.

[mailmonkey]

Two brand new trolleys had wheels fall off on the terrain in week one.

The estuary plan sounds like it might be a goer.

Where's postman8?

[Himaggen]

Most of our P&L routes involve routinely leaving trollies unattended for WELL over a minute at a time, OR dragging them up steps, up steep hills, up pavements too narrow for them, or parking them onslopes where they can just slide off.

our local rep and dep rep repeatedly brought these issues up with management and area/div level CWU, who have taken no notice of these issues, and introduced the revisions over our local rep's head.

Testers who tested the P&L duties also brought these issues up with management, area management, area/div CWU reps, again, ignored.

Revision duties brought in with the blessing of area/div reps and over and above our local rep's wishes, and members' wishes.

So yeah, Himmagen, we might not be meant to do all this, but it's been brought in, and our complaints are being ignored. Where do you suggest we go next?

First of all make your concerns heard in an official capacity in order to absolve yourself of blame. Secondly seek the documentation indicating that an assessment has passed your duty as suitable for the delivery method. Then have the trolley stolen, damage a customers property with it when it hurtles down the hill and fake an injury, caused directly by the trolley or by removing and carrying all items from it due to leaving it for longer than allowed.

[stokes11eg]

Most of our P&L routes involve routinely leaving trollies unattended for WELL over a minute at a time, OR dragging them up steps, up steep hills, up pavements too narrow for them, or parking them onslopes where they can just slide off.

our local rep and dep rep repeatedly brought these issues up with management and area/div level CWU, who have taken no notice of these issues, and introduced the revisions over our local rep's head.

Testers who tested the P&L duties also brought these issues up with management, area management, area/div CWU reps, again, ignored.

Revision duties brought in with the blessing of area/div reps and over and above our local rep's wishes, and members' wishes.

So yeah, Himmagen, we might not be meant to do all this, but it's been brought in, and our complaints are being ignored. Where do you suggest we go next?

First of all make your concerns heard in an official capacity in order to absolve yourself of blame. Secondly seek the documentation indicating that an assessment has passed your duty as suitable for the delivery method. Then have the trolley stolen, damage a customers property with it when it hurtles down the hill and fake an injury, caused directly by the trolley or by removing and carrying all items from it due to leaving it for longer than allowed.

Oh Oh-whilst agreeing with your first sentence, don't encourage workers to indulge in faking injuries etc. As you say, everyone should point out in writing to both Management and the union, that they are ar risk of serious injury by using these contraptions. They cannot, or should not ingnore this, let's face it, during the bad winter, they almost insisted that we self assess the risks---same should be done with the trolleys-----I'd also point out to them, that if you should fall and the trolley injures someone else, that they will be liable,

[fishtank]

If they continue to use the trolley's under these circumstances no-one will have to fake anything because it is only a matter of time before someone is hurt.
My suggestion for mailmonkey and postman8 would be to sideline the area and divisional reps as they are obviously pursuing their own agenda and move any disagreement and individual grievance through the Health and Safety side of the CWU,Royal Mail and ultimately the HSE.