Staff accuse Royal Mail

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 15 Sep 2008, 15:45

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/new ... 4490917.jp
Published Date: 15 September 2008
By Richard Marsden

POSTAL workers have accused Royal Mail of not doing enough to protect staff from dog attacks - despite assurances from bosses.
Company area safety manager Chris Roberts said there was an "extensive training programme" to ensure staff knew how to manage the risk.

He said Royal Mail makes sonic alarms available to posties to ward off roaming dogs and, following an attack or
near miss, writes to offending addresses, asking householders to keep pets under control or risk losing their delivery.

In more serious cases, the dog warden and police are informed.

But the Communication Workers' Union said the company should be doing more.

Area safety representative Darrell Bennett said Royal Mail did not attend meetings the union arranged with the Government, police, RSPCA and MPs to discuss its campaign for a change in dangerous dog laws.

Mr Bennett added: "Royal Mail does not provide effective training - identified in recent Health and Safety Executive investigations..

"And it has failed to prosecute, on behalf of any employee attacked, one customer in the last 15 years.

"Sonic alarms are ineffective. Royal Mail now issues 'bite back spray' instead of the dazers."

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 15 Sep 2008, 16:02

WHY CAN WE NOT BE ISSUED WITH DOG TASER'S OR PEPPER SPRAY! IT IS NOT FOR USE AGAINST THE PUBLIC BUT THE HOUND'S FROM HELL!. MORE R/M BULLSH*T!.

brothermagrew · Post by **brothermagrew** » 18 Sep 2008, 16:04

Royal Mail now issues 'bite back spray' instead of the dazers."

If this is really the case then why aren't they issuing directly to frontline delivery staff as part of PPE (like hi-viz and cycle helmets).

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 18 Sep 2008, 16:07

brothermagrew wrote:Royal Mail now issues 'bite back spray' instead of the dazers."

If this is really the case then why aren't they issuing directly to frontline delivery staff as part of PPE (like hi-viz and cycle helmets).

Question what is bite back spray and i have never heard of it and nor does anyone i know!.

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 18 Sep 2008, 18:41

k979aaa wrote:
brothermagrew wrote:Royal Mail now issues 'bite back spray' instead of the dazers."

If this is really the case then why aren't they issuing directly to frontline delivery staff as part of PPE (like hi-viz and cycle helmets).
Question what is bite back spray and i have never heard of it and nor does anyone i know!.

Same here

all we get is "you fill in this form and you report it to the dog warden because we don't want to know"

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 18 Sep 2008, 18:54

disgruntledpostie1 wrote:
k979aaa wrote:
brothermagrew wrote:Royal Mail now issues 'bite back spray' instead of the dazers."

If this is really the case then why aren't they issuing directly to frontline delivery staff as part of PPE (like hi-viz and cycle helmets).
Question what is bite back spray and i have never heard of it and nor does anyone i know!.
Same here all we get is "you fill in this form and you report it to the dog warden because we don't want to know"

If we know what bite back spray is and maybe we can pressure our manager's at WTL to supply us all with it and soon!.

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 18 Sep 2008, 19:05

k979aaa wrote:
disgruntledpostie1 wrote:
k979aaa wrote:
brothermagrew wrote:Royal Mail now issues 'bite back spray' instead of the dazers."

If this is really the case then why aren't they issuing directly to frontline delivery staff as part of PPE (like hi-viz and cycle helmets).
Question what is bite back spray and i have never heard of it and nor does anyone i know!.
Same here all we get is "you fill in this form and you report it to the dog warden because we don't want to know"
If we know what bite back spray is and maybe we can pressure our manager's at WTL to supply us all with it and soon!.

Maybe the managers are afraid we'll end up using it on them

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 18 Sep 2008, 19:07

disgruntledpostie1 wrote:
k979aaa wrote:
disgruntledpostie1 wrote:
k979aaa wrote:
brothermagrew wrote:Royal Mail now issues 'bite back spray' instead of the dazers."

If this is really the case then why aren't they issuing directly to frontline delivery staff as part of PPE (like hi-viz and cycle helmets).
Question what is bite back spray and i have never heard of it and nor does anyone i know!.
Same here all we get is "you fill in this form and you report it to the dog warden because we don't want to know"
If we know what bite back spray is and maybe we can pressure our manager's at WTL to supply us all with it and soon!.
Maybe the managers are afraid we'll end up using it on them

It must only work on dog's!. THAT WILL BE THE REASON THEN!.

apple · Post by **apple** » 18 Sep 2008, 19:10

bite back spray is a small aerosol spray that is big enough to go in your pocket with no probs, when i used it, well tested it on a dog i don't like, it seemed to work it smells like peppermint and comes out of the can at quite a rate so not sure if it was the smell of it or the rate it came out the can, who cares it worked!

got mine off the DIM ages ago and they have more in the office, tear the DIM away from the coffee machine and get him to order you some

brothermagrew · Post by **brothermagrew** » 18 Sep 2008, 19:54

macfan wrote:bite back spray is a small aerosol spray that is big enough to go in your pocket with no probs, when i used it, well tested it on a dog i don't like, it seemed to work it smells like peppermint and comes out of the can at quite a rate so not sure if it was the smell of it or the rate it came out the can, who cares it worked!

got mine off the DIM ages ago and they have more in the office, tear the DIM away from the coffee machine and get him to order you some

macfan any chance of you getting us some for once useful intel out of your DOM like suppliers name and address of said bite back spray so as respective DO's can coerce their DOMs into ordering some. Or does it come centrally from Royal Mail?

LDV 350 · Post by **LDV 350** » 18 Sep 2008, 19:59

How dare you all accuse Royal Mail of not doing enough, dont you know that they are giving you red fleeces that will hide the blood from dog bites and their caring attendance procedures what more could we ask

brothermagrew · Post by **brothermagrew** » 18 Sep 2008, 20:09

LDV 350 wrote:How dare you all accuse Royal Mail of not doing enough, dont you know that they are giving you red fleeces that will hide the blood from dog bites and their caring attendance procedures what more could we ask

That's why as a safety rep I always maintain that if any of us are unfortunate enough to get a bad bite then take a bloody photograph of said injuries.

apple · Post by **apple** » 18 Sep 2008, 20:45

Have had a look at the can and it says made by TASH uk ltd barnstaple 01271 322869
don't know what the order number is for RM but will ask tomorrow if i remember for you
oh ye it comes from RM should be a order number somewhere

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 18 Sep 2008, 20:47

macfan wrote:Have had a look at the can and it says made by TASH uk ltd barnstaple 01271 322869
don't know what the order number is for RM but will ask tomorrow if i remember for you