To all members at Bristol Mail Centre:AOD

[POSTMAN]

To all members at Bristol Mail Centre

Accidents on Duty

There have been a number of concerns expressed over the way in which accidents have been investigated on site, whilst it is important to minimise the risk to our frontline members, it is unnecessary and counter productive to approach this in a draconian manner.

You have an absolute right to enter accidents into the ERICA, and you should not be put off by your manager suggesting that there will be an investigation. If this is suggested then you should pass this information onto your shift rep.

There has been a combination of issues that has led to this, the drive in the World Class Mail Safety pillar, the introduction of guidelines with regards to unsafe acts, combined with a business drive to push the cost of accidents down, and a number of over zealous managers.

We do not expect the business to use a punitive approach to accident investigations, and expect that in future all investigations will be carried out with the full involvement of the CWU Health & Safety reps. We recognise that the vast majority of accidents in the workplace are just that, and hope that the business also recognise this, without penalising front line staff who are only trying to get the job done.

Any local agreement is subject to the national framework of agreements that exist, and nothing in any local agreement can override the protection you enjoy from them.

Mike Wollacott
Area Processing Rep

[TrueBlueTerrier]

the drive in the World Class Mail Safety pillar

que, translation please.

[hubbahubba]

the drive in the World Class Mail Safety pillar

que, translation please.

This WCM crap is split into about 7(i think) pillars,one of which is safety. (the 7 pillars)

[TrueBlueTerrier]

the drive in the World Class Mail Safety pillar

que, translation please.

This WCM crap is split into about 7(i think) pillars,one of which is safety. (the 7 pillars)

Ah - cheers that makes it a bit more clear. Honest

[newspaper]

our office they look into your AOD and if its your fault you are on Statutory Sick Pay

[Sharkeyes]

our office they look into your AOD and if its your fault you are on Statutory Sick Pay

I always say that until it has been fully investigated ( including the H&S reps view on it), it's not your fault.
Some managers are dismissive and are too pressured with other things, to give their full attention to it. They can only input what either you or a colleague (witness) tells them to. All accidents 'should be' investigated, fully.
I find that certain accidents are open to interpretation such as hitting your head on a hanging basket.
A manager may say its your fault for not looking, but if the full circumstances reveal that because it was raining, you had your hood up and the box was at the bottom of the door, then you could not be aware of the baskets presence. Also if carrying a bag, as you rise up, your balance could have been affected, causing you to come into contact with the 'offending' hanging basket. Therefore, I would say that the property owner is largely to blame for putting an obstacle in the way of 'your work area' without due consideration.
The same is true of driving accidents. I have found in the past that RM have been too quick to accept the third parties version of events and pay out then ask a manager to issue a 'blame worthy' against the employee.
Having investigated some of them myself, I refused to issue such an order as the employee was on one particular occasion, totally 'blameless'.

[andy2007]

the drive in the World Class Mail Safety pillar

que, translation please.

This WCM crap is split into about 7(i think) pillars,one of which is safety. (the 7 pillars)

Ah - cheers that makes it a bit more clear. Honest

Each Pillar is assessed at regular intervals, and given a score. The scores for each Pillar are combined (once a year) to give an overall score, which gets (hopefully) a Bronze, Silver or Gold, award. If you don't even get a Bronze, then the Centre has failed (from the WCM perspective anyway). If the Centre does badly, they look at which Pillar(s) is/are "letting the side down", and the Pillar Leader(s) (a Manager) has to explain him/herself to his/her "superiors". Did they get an award?
If not, that could be why. If not, it might just be an attempt to beat a rival Centre.

The whole thing is a farce! It should be about improving things. NOT being pressurised into hiding problems!!!!!