Severe weather, health and safety.

Dingo99 · Post by **Dingo99** » 02 Mar 2018, 13:49

Hi guys I'm just wondering where I stand on refusing to go out on delivery. Here in S.E Kent every pavement had black ice up and down including the roads. By some miracle I completed my duty bringing only one letter back where it was unsafe on an incline. I nearly fell over multiple times throughout my delivery today. Anyone could see it was unsafe for me to take my trolley out especially the rural drivers too! I am in work tomorrow and currently it is now snowing again and I think the results will be the same tomorrow - black ice everywhere, but I think my boss will try to get us out due to the backlog from problems with Medway mail centre. Thanks in advance

Ps we have a rep but never see him, he is in an office 6 miles away.

Dan (Dingo99)

steve1873 · Post by **steve1873** » 02 Mar 2018, 14:20

Hi Dan, they cannot force you to go out on delivery. If YOU deem it to be unsafe and have a justifiable reason for holding this view, then that is enough. Do not let them bully you. If given grief, simply state that you will not be bullied in to doing work that will put your health & safety in jeopardy. Contact area rep if your local rep is unavailable and he/she will back you to the hilt.

Dingo99 · Post by **Dingo99** » 02 Mar 2018, 14:27

Cheers I ave the number of the CT area rep, might give her a ring then tomorrow morning, ta.

awesomepenguin · Post by **awesomepenguin** » 02 Mar 2018, 15:08

Get online and google the "Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974"

"It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees"

Ask whoever it is trying to send you out if they think this act of parliament does not apply to them.

You will find that most Royal Mail managers will back down when they know that you know your rights etc.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 02 Mar 2018, 15:12

LWTs in Snow

In adverse weather conditions (ice, snow, and slippery conditions) the LWT must only be used on
cleared surfaces and with extra care

https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... WT#p667180" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Its the same for HCTs.

Post by **IloveMYredTROLLEY!** » 02 Mar 2018, 16:33

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:LWTs in Snow

In adverse weather conditions (ice, snow, and slippery conditions) the LWT must only be used on
cleared surfaces and with extra care

https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... WT#p667180" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Its the same for HCTs.

And hands up if your depot's management team remind you of this rule about not using LWTs or HCTs on snow/ice covered pavements, on these relatively rare days of exceptional weather.

Just like all the SSOW rules regarding delivery, management often don't give two hoots how you get deliveries done, as long as the depot appears to be clear of mail all the chain of command getting performances are happy shoppers.

beanmuncha · Post by **beanmuncha** » 02 Mar 2018, 18:48

If they insist you go out and deliver against H&S advice, ask them for it in writing that they take full responsibility for anything that happens to you or any vehicle that is sent out.
They will not do this because they know that you should not be going out. Stand your ground as an office and say so, it is madness to send anyone out in the current weather.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 02 Mar 2018, 19:04

Everything is here in the announcements above...
SEVERE WEATHER THREADS : UPDATED 2018
Including...
Attendance in Severe Weather (Good thread with lots of info)