Pouches giving me a bad back

[sophie97]

does anyone else get a bad back from carrying pouches? my back really hurts from shoulder right the way down to lower back when carrying them. its ok on the last few bundles but at the start its killer, sometime they are so heavy I can hardly move at any speed.

Any tips?

also no I dont weigh them, no one in the office does.

[tobytyke]

Use a trolley, they are there to stop this happening.

[rumble1234]

It doesn't matter if no one else is weighing bags you should be the max is 16kilos and the weight is ment to be off the shoulder use a trolley look up the safe systems of work or ask your union about it if there's no help in the office go further your health is ultimately your priority its ment to be royal mails also but they don't really care and if you don't adhere to safe systems of work they will blame your bad back on you

[TrueBlueTerrier]

does anyone else get a bad back from carrying pouches? my back really hurts from shoulder right the way down to lower back when carrying them. its ok on the last few bundles but at the start its killer, sometime they are so heavy I can hardly move at any speed.

Any tips?

also no I dont weigh them, no one in the office does.

Yes cut down the weight in your bags.

The 16kg is a weight limit not a target.

Mine rarely exceed 10kgs, and its not because I am lazy. The weight means less fatigue and less wear and tear on my body, if anything it makes me quicker as well. If you haven't got any scales then that is a H&S failing I believe and if you're not weighing the bags then any future claim for an injury may be affected.

[ghostgirl]

As others have said use a trolley!!! If you have an accident and aren't using a trolley the management will say you are to blame!!

[JiminyBillyBob]

Some walks I've done, the really heavy walks with loads of parcels, every bag would weigh more than 16kg, you need to split it into 12 bags or something?

[sophie97]

Some walks I've done, the really heavy walks with loads of parcels, every bag would weigh more than 16kg, you need to split it into 12 bags or something?

Trouble is there are only 6 pouches in the office for the walk which has 6 loops, and if I was to put a 16KG limit on the bags, there would be about 30 small parcels to drop off by van which we simply dont have time to do.

[catch22]

then take a trolly- you are provided with the equiptment to complete your job without injuring yourself... it takes more time to get someone to drop the parcels off to you or to deliver them for you. Get a trolly... no excuses really when the equiptment it provided.

[Lance Jack]

Before our revision we had a rule where your first bag could way a maximum of 16kg and all bags after that had to be 11kg or under. This was to protect our backs and the drivers who where dropping the bags of at pouch boxes.
The first thing I did when we had our revision was to make the loops smaller so the bags weighed less, sometimes it's just a bundle. Even though the planners had asked me in detail about my walk it was evident they had not listened. Hard to use a trolley when you have flats or the security issue that comes with delivering to a Gypsy site and the overflow from it.
Your back, make the bays smaller and lighter.

[eastie]

shouldnt use a pouch on the shoulder, use a trolley which is slower and work to your time
Carrying heavy pouches is for mugs

[scoobydo79]

Why on earth are You carrying bags on Your back?

[Darren Bent]

make sure the bag shoulder strap is correct length as if you have it too long it will put more pressure on the back. Don't try to do much especially in last bag.

[OnAFlyer]

Some walks I've done, the really heavy walks with loads of parcels, every bag would weigh more than 16kg, you need to split it into 12 bags or something?

Trouble is there are only 6 pouches in the office for the walk which has 6 loops, and if I was to put a 16KG limit on the bags, there would be about 30 small parcels to drop off by van which we simply dont have time to do.

It's not your problem if you don't have time to complete. Have you had a revision yet? Ask for a trolley, and if its not suitable to use one (flats, security issues) then cut the bag weighs right down.

I'll repeat....it is not your problem if you do not have time to complete whilst doing the job safely. Carrying overweight bags is against H&S anyway and sooner or later you will be off sick.

Since our revision I no longer carry anything over 8kg (lots of flats so no good for a trolley) and the difference it makes is amazing. 8kg is a maximum of 3 bundles depending what's in them, I would never carry a bag anywhere near 16kg anymore as it makes the job so much more comfortable.

If its a particularly heavy day we just split it down even further, the walks take longer and there's less chance of completing - as I've already said, not our problem.

You need to stand up for yourself before you end up injured. There seems to be some macho element in RM, even now some of the retards in my office put 2 and 3 loops in one bag, carrying 20+kg. Madness.

[haddie]

you should not be using pouches anymore except from shared van and then not more than 8cwt.if you injure your back and are not using proper methods then you could be disciplined

[barrowc]

8cwt That's 400kg