Reporting accidents on duty?

[postypie]

Hiya..newbie here..got a question for any CWU rep out there as my local one doesn't seem to now the answer to a very simple question!
Not long back i had an accident on a duty i was not familiar with..i slipped on some steps inside a block of flats..steps/stairs that had been cleaned by the caretaker earlier..anyway to cut a long story short i did not think nothing of it as my ankle was sore and my first thought was to go home and get some ice on it..after i had dropped a few undelivered items back at the office..the next day it had swollen(my ankle guys) so i thought i'd better report it..which i did only to be asked(by my manager) why i hadn't reported it on the day it happened and one of my managers come out with this quote while talking to another manager about the accident..'' i know where this is going'' little did i know that a few weeks later i got a conduct code warning for not reporting the accident on the day it happened!!
My simple question is this.
Is there a time limit for reporting accidents?
Can managers conduct code staff for not reporting accidents on the day it happened?
The manager who went out to investigate the accident and circumstances surrounding it came to the conclusion that the accident had never happened in the first place!!!
I was told by the manager who conducted the interview for my conduct code warning to 'accept' the warning and move on..but i firmly believe i have done nothing wrong in the first place!!
Thanks guys..look forward to any help.

[flaminmoses]

They are using anything to get shot of people nowadays

Were you ever told to report incidents on the day?
Was anyone around on the day when yu got back to the office?

Not saying they will get shot of you but make a note of all of this just I case you heed it in future.
If for instance you ever get sacked relating to you injury you may need it in atribunal

[DGP1]

And this is the reason why RM managers are failing, they conduct us over everything, they make up rules that contradict other rules and then conduct us, of course it's all with the blessing of the CWU leadership.

The senior managers at board level need to get their managers under control or things will blow up again, serious anger at the way we're being treated over things.

[clashcityrocker]

I thought it was 24 hours.

[Red Robbo]

Hiya..newbie here..got a question for any CWU rep out there as my local one doesn't seem to now the answer to a very simple question!
Not long back i had an accident on a duty i was not familiar with..i slipped on some steps inside a block of flats..steps/stairs that had been cleaned by the caretaker earlier..anyway to cut a long story short i did not think nothing of it as my ankle was sore and my first thought was to go home and get some ice on it..after i had dropped a few undelivered items back at the office..the next day it had swollen(my ankle guys) so i thought i'd better report it..which i did only to be asked(by my manager) why i hadn't reported it on the day it happened and one of my managers come out with this quote while talking to another manager about the accident..'' i know where this is going'' little did i know that a few weeks later i got a conduct code warning for not reporting the accident on the day it happened!!
My simple question is this.
Is there a time limit for reporting accidents?
Can managers conduct code staff for not reporting accidents on the day it happened?
The manager who went out to investigate the accident and circumstances surrounding it came to the conclusion that the accident had never happened in the first place!!!
I was told by the manager who conducted the interview for my conduct code warning to 'accept' the warning and move on..but i firmly believe i have done nothing wrong in the first place!!
Thanks guys..look forward to any help.

There is no simple time limit to report accidents on duty however you have to be sensible about it , 6 - 12 months after the accident would be ridiculous but in your case I don't see a problem. What managers need to understand is that reporting accidents on duty does not mean that RM accept liability for the accident you suffered, you are simply reporting it, The problem managers have is investigating it especially after a period of time has elapsed. After investigating an accident if a manager feels that because of your sheer stupidity the accident happened you may be disciplined for your actions, but if this is going to happen then you are entitled to representation.Any penalty given under the Conduct Code has an appeal, so you could appeal against his / her decision.World Class Mails encourage their managers to make staff report accidents within 24 hours, however the Union has not signed up to WCM. Hope this is of some help and assistance ?

[brothermagrew]

In the CWU Lighten The Load Guidelines the following text is found.

Report all Accidents - Accidents should be reported as soon as possible to
the Manager who will complete an on-line electronic accident report form and
report it via "ERICA" (Electronic Reporting of Incidents for collation and Analysis).

The term soon as possible could be interpreted differently by relevant parties, but normally accidents should be reported within a 24-48 hour timespan. You cannot reasonably be expected to report it to line management if they are absent from their place of work in the office (for whatever reason) to complete an on-line electronic accident report form. However, it would be reasonable to expect that some form of contact was made with line management on the day of the accident to inform them of such matters.

Suggest you also read this particular thread.

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... ca#p464057" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lounge Lizard]

Such a rigmerole reporting accidents these days, so there's the urge not to bother unless it's a serious one.

[keithposty]

accidents must be reported within 24 hours and within 48 hours if on a weekend

if the employee is unavailable, say in hospital with a broken leg, the manager can do the erica report with miimum data and complete the notes later once an accident investigation has been done by the H & S REP AND MANAGER TO identify the route cause analysis of the accident

the purpose of any investigation is not to proportion blame but to stop it happening again or minimise the risk

[DGP1]

accidents must be reported within 24 hours and within 48 hours if on a weekend

if the employee is unavailable, say in hospital with a broken leg, the manager can do the erica report with miimum data and complete the notes later once an accident investigation has been done by the H & S REP AND MANAGER TO identify the route cause analysis of the accident

the purpose of any investigation is not to proportion blame but to stop it happening again or minimise the risk

That's bollocks, I've seen many people ending up being conducted after reporting accidents.

[Himaggen]

I was informed that opening an ERICA after twenty four hours will trigger a fine of up to four thousand pounds. This tells me that there is no legal/agreed twenty four hour deadline but very little chance that one will be opened after that duration has expired.

This would suggest that the decision to conduct code was based solely on implied financial loss not on employee discipline.

[POSTMAN]

Unbelievable,i'm seriously losing the will...

[keithposty]

i fail to see how a collegue can be conduct coded for reporting an accident

an accident by definition is an unforseen occurance

to be subject to the conduct code the employee must be going against h & s guide lines by cutting corners

the reason why it is 24 hours is that if the inJury lasts more than three days it is then a RIDDOR and recorded by the HSE

[brothermagrew]

i fail to see how a collegue can be conduct coded for reporting an accident

an accident by definition is an unforseen occurance

to be subject to the conduct code the employee must be going against h & s guide lines by cutting corners

the reason why it is 24 hours is that if the inJury lasts more than three days it is then a RIDDOR and recorded by the HSE

From 6 April 2012, subject to Parliamentary approval, RIDDOR’s over three day injury reporting requirement will change. From then the trigger point will increase from over three days’ to over seven days’ incapacitation (not counting the day on which the accident happened).

Incapacitation means that the worker is absent or is unable to do work that they would reasonably be expected to do as part of their normal work. Employers and others with responsibilities under RIDDOR must still keep a record of all over three day injuries – if the employer has to keep an accident book, then this record will be enough.

The deadline by which the over seven day injury must be reported will increase to 15 days from the day of the accident.



Additionally it should be noted that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced (15th March 2012) that its cost recovery scheme, Fee for Intervention, is going ahead but will now not start in April 2012. The scheme sets out to recover costs from those who break health and safety laws for the time and effort HSE spends on helping to put matters right - investigating and taking enforcement action. Law-abiding businesses will be free from costs and will not pay a penny.

Gordon MacDonald, HSE's programme director, said:

"The Government has agreed that it is right that those who break the law should pay their fair share of the costs to put things right - and not the public purse. "The Government intends to proceed with the FFI scheme as recommended to ministers by HSE's Board in December in response to the formal consultation that took place last Summer.

"Discussions are still taking place on the technical details of the scheme, which we expect to conclude soon.

"Therefore, FFI will not be introduced in April but at the next available opportunity, which is likely to be October 2012."

HSE is taking advantage of the extra time to work further with businesses to improve their understanding of the scheme and how it will affect them. Detailed guidance for employers and organisations will be available on HSE's website ahead of implementation. A practice run of the new processes and procedures underpinning the scheme is already underway in HSE and will continue until the scheme is implemented.

[Red Robbo]

Because of this new legislation recorded accidents will fall and so will the statistics thus gradually getting rid of the HSE !!!!