Misuse of York Container Cardboard Sleeves

[TrueBlueTerrier]

No. 315/10
Ref C2510
Date: 13 April 2010


To: All Branches
 
Dear Colleagues
  
Misuse of York Container Cardboard Sleeves - Risk of Musculoskeletal Injuries and Disorders (MSDs):

Please see below my letter which has been sent to Royal Mail regarding the above, the contents of which are self explanatory. A meeting is being arranged to discuss the issue. See also attached a copy of CPC "Opps Flash" 2010/036 dated 25 March 2010 which stated that:

"Cardboard York Inserts are not to be used for Outward Despatches into the network by Mail Centres. Packets should be despatched bagged or using ALP Sleeves.
Mail Centres having insufficient ALP sleeves should put contingency plans in place to bag Packets."

It also states that:

"Mail Centres may use pre-used Cardboard sleeves from Mail Centre to local Delivery sites but the cardboard MUST be in good order, the cross member and base must be inserted following the SSoW."

CWU/HQ Health, Safety and Environment Department has received many reports since Xmas of the misuse of Cardboard Sleeves by Mail Centres and reports of the SSoW being ignored frequently with the cross members and false bases not being fitted.

It remains our policy to pursue the total eradication of Cardboard Sleeves outside specific contracts and we have requested a meeting with Royal Mail to discuss:-

1. Non-Compliance with instructions not to use Cardboard Sleeves in the network MCs to MCs.
2. Non-Compliance with the SSoW - using the cross-member and false base.
3. Moving towards total eradication of Cardboard Sleeves including MC to DO transfers.

Yours Sincerely



Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

==========================================================================================

  
Our Ref: C2510/DJ/kg
 
 
13 April 2010
 
 
Neil Hayes
Container Equipment Manager      
Royal Mail Logistics Fleet and Maintenance Services                                                                       
 
 
 
Dear Neil,
 
Misuse of York Container Cardboard Sleeves - Risk of Musculoskeletal Injuries and Disorders (MSDs):
 
Further to our recent telephone conversation I have asked my Secretary to arrange a mutually convenient date on which we can meet to discuss the above problem and investigate how we can eradicate York Container "Cardboard Sleeves" from Royal
Mail Letters operations.
 
As we all know the use of Cardboard sleeves in the network from MC to MC traffic was ceased and banned for safety and operational reasons several years ago by the Network Director Tony Fox, fully supported by the then Head of Safety Allan St
John-Holt.
 
The history of this problem dates back some years. A Nationally Agreed 'Joint Statement' was signed in November 2005 by myself on behalf of CWU/HQ and the then head of CPC (Central Postal Control) Mike Eady on behalf of RML HQ regarding the withdrawal of Cardboard Sleeves from "general use" and instructions were issued to Area Managers and Mail Centre Managers to comply with an instruction to remove the sleeves from circulation.

The grounds for withdrawal of Cardboard Sleeves were set out by Central Postal Control (CPC) in the instructions sent to
AGMs and MCMs as follows:-

1.   The use of Cardboard Sleeves for packet traffic was having an adverse affect on the network
2.   Safe Systems of Work were not being followed
3.   Increased York Container demands (Cardboard Sleeve only holds 65% of a full York with an ALP Sleeve)
4.   Reduced vehicle utilisation
5.   Large amounts of unwanted, waste cardboard requiring repatriation. (Also environmental issue)

In November 2005 RML HQ issued the instructions that Cardboard Sleeves have been withdrawn from "general use" and the
plan was to phase out cardboard sleeves firstly for MC to MC circulation over a 2 month period and secondly, following this
the transfer of packets from MCs to DOs would be phased out once MC to MC withdrawal was complete and once sufficient
ALP (Auto-Level Packet) Sleeves were in the system.
 
The first part of the problem - compliance with the withdrawal of Cardboard Sleeves from the Network has never been effectively resolved despite joint efforts and it reoccurs year after year despite sterling efforts by CPC who have issued fresh
instructions in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
 
The second phase of the complete withdrawal - Packet Transfers from Mail Centres to Delivery Offices has never been addressed by CPC or anyone in RML HQ, despite the original intention and despite the same manual handling risks and
ergonomic problems presented by its continuation. The sad fact is we should have completed the total withdrawal of Cardboard Sleeves by now.
 
The misuse of Cardboard Sleeves for loose packet and other traffic increases the risk of musculoskeletal injuries to members of staff. As you are aware Cardboard sleeves in Yorks for loose loaded packet and other traffic instead of the ALP (Auto Level
Packet) sleeves leads to poor lifting technique encouraged by using these sleeves combined with increased requirements of bending lifting, reaching and twisting, greatly increasing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders (MSDs) when sorting
loose items from the bottom of cardboard sleeves. From a productivity point of view it additionally slows down the sorting process. These findings were reflected in a Royal Mail ergonomic study of cardboard sleeve use carried out at Swindon Mail
Centre in 2008.
 
Royal Mail Letters have reaffirmed the agreed policy that Cardboard Sleeves remain withdrawn from "general use" for MC to MC traffic on several occasions and reissued instructions to Mail Centre Managers and other Managers repeatedly but the
instructions are undermined by those very managers and by the fact that Cardboard Sleeve use for MC to DO traffic is still authorised and condoned. This means a high risk method of work remains in place. (So Much for "World Class Mails" and
"Great Place To Work" - More like "Third World Mails"!)

In November 2006 Logistics Director Tony Fox confirmed that the agreed Policy is to remove Cardboard Sleeves and Royal Mail will stick to its commitment that cardboard sleeved York Containers will no longer be routinely used for the distribution of
packets within the Mail Centre network and No Post Code Areas are "exempt" from the removal of Cardboard Sleeves irrespective of what may be said by some local managers. However, the problem continues to recur!
 
CPC 'Opps Flash' Instructions have gone out annually reinforcing the message, the latest being CPC 2010/036 dated 25 March
2010 which stated that:
 
"Cardboard York Inserts are not to be used for Outward Despatches into the network by Mail Centres. Packets should be despatched bagged or using ALP Sleeves.
Mail Centres having insufficient ALP sleeves should put contingency plans in place to bag Packets."
 
But it also repeated that:
 
"Mail Centres may use pre-used Cardboard sleeves from Mail Centre to local Delivery sites but the cardboard MUST be in good order, the cross member and base must be inserted following the SSoW."
 
CWU/HQ received many reports of the SSoW being ignored frequently with the cross members and
false bases not being fitted.
 
We would like to discuss with you:-
1. Non-Compliance with instructions not to use Cardboard Sleeves in the network MCs to MCs.
2. Non-Compliance with the SSoW - using the cross-member and false base.
3. Moving towards total eradication of Cardboard Sleeves including MC to DO transfers.
 
I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible and arranging to meet.
 
 
Yours Sincerely
 
 

Dave Joyce
CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

====================================================================================================
Opsflash


CPC (2010) 036

Subject: Use of cardboard sleeves in Yorks - Urgent action required


1. This Opsflash is for the immediate attention of and action where appropriate by, all RM UK Operations and RM shift managers.

It must be handed to the senior manager on duty who will be responsible for ensuring the information is cascaded immediately to all managers on duty as necessary, within processing, distribution and delivery functions.

Cardboard York Inserts are not to be used for Outward Despatches into the network by Mail Centres.

Packets should be despatched bagged or using ALP Sleeves.

Mail Centres having insufficient ALP sleeves should put contingency plans in place to bag Packets.

Mail Centres may use pre-used Cardboard sleeves from Mail Centre to local Delivery sites but the cardboard MUST be in good order, the cross member and base must be inserted following the SSoW.

Under no circumstances damaged cardboard to be used and must be discarded locally.

There are NO circumstances where the Shrink-Wrapping of Yorks is acceptable. This practice must not be allowed at any RM site.

Any questions on this Opsflash should be addressed to Neil Hayes on 5366 4306 (01270 531205)




Central Postal Control
25th March 2010
Time of Issue: 09:15

[SpacePhoenix]

The cardboard sleeves seem to outnumber the ALP sleeves by a fair amount now a few nights in recent months we seem to be using nearly all cardboard sleeves between the MC and the DOs. We're apparently going to be moving to sending all MC to MC stuff in sleeves and with the space taken up by the machines going in it would not surprise me if the current road frames get taken away and cut up.

It wouldn't surprise me if the number of cardboard sleeves being used for MC to MC stuff goes up by a fair amount, alot of the ALP sleeves are falling apart, many have broken clips. I think we should have colour codes for them with each colour being confined to a certain type of traffic:

• Purple: Transfer of Tracked items between MCs and DOs
• Green: Transfer of Special Delivery Items between MCs and DOs
• Yellow: Transfer of normal items between MCs and DOs
• Red: Transfer of intra items between MCs and DOs
• Blue: Transfer of foreign items between MCs and Heathrow MC (and any other MC/office dealing with foreign items
• Black: Transfer of items between MCs and MCs