New Royal Mail Standard Issue Magnum Shoes & Boots

[TrueBlueTerrier]

No. 224/08
Ref C11
Date: 25 March 2008


To: All Postal Branches
New Royal Mail Standard Issue Magnum Shoes & Boots
This is to update Branches and Safety Representatives further to LTBs 1110/07, 038/08 and 76/08 and to report on the resolution reached.
The background is that following lab tests and field trials in 2006/7 which apparently gave positive results, Royal Mail started to introduce a new footwear range, produced by "Magnum Hi-Tec" in September 2007. However by the beginning of the year, with the amount in use growing, a significant number of members started complaining about poor grip and quality issues. By the end of February 2008, 50% of outdoor staff had ordered the shoes or boots.
The history of the problem as reported in LTB 1110/ 2007, and LTB 038/08 is that the Health, Safety and Environment Department and Outdoor Department were being inundated with complaints from across the UK regarding the new-type standard issue uniform "Magnum Hi-Tec" shoes and boots. The complaints (from OPGs and Engineers) were consistent across the country in that the soles of the new footwear appeared to be slippery in certain conditions and on certain surfaces from new and as such have caused several accidents, some serious.
Reports received from many CWU branches confirmed that the on certain smooth surfaces even in dry weather as well as in wet weather the new footwear was failing to provide adequate grip. Smooth surfaces such as tiled floors and paths, resin coated screed drives, gloss finish block paving, metal staircases and showrooms were all examples of where slip accidents had occurred. Cycle delivery staff reported that the slippery soles had caused feet to slide off the pedals when wet causing a loss of control of the cycles and a risk of accidents.

Other faults commonly reported with the boots from Branches representing delivery staff and engineers were: zips break easily, seams between the sole and the upper splits and the top and bottom parts of the boot detach and come apart, weatherproof coating peels off.

In relation to complaints regarding the zip fastener, Royal Mail agreed to arrange with the manufacturer to remove the zip from future issues.

A number of Reports of accidents connected to the footwear and photographs were received at CWU/HQ from safety representatives and branch officers and I would like to thank those who sent them in as they proved useful in demonstrating the widespread problems. All were passed on to Royal Mail to demonstrate the Union's concerns.

The point was made strongly that it's not acceptable to supply staff with inadequate footwear and in doing so expose staff to the risk of slips, trips and falls.
Royal Mail investigated the data on slipping accidents and initially responded by claiming that the new footwear was outperforming and better than the old footwear and that people wearing the current footwear range were involved in fewer slip incidents than those who were using the old design. Royal Mail then produced statistics showing that Slips & Trips Accidents broke down as follows:-

New Footwear 29%
Old Footwear 37%
Non RM Footwear on duty 18%
No response 16%

However, Royal Mail accepted fully that the overall number of slips and trips is an issue that needs to be addressed and Lab tests on the footwear was commissioned and carried out at SATRA Technology Laboratories and at HSL (Health & Safety Laboratories). The SATRA and HSL Tests came back with SATRA favouring the new footwear and HSL favouring the old footwear more or less but concluding no clear preferred option from both Labs. Neither being superior across all surfaces.
Meetings have taken place with Royal Mail's Operations Director and Royal Mail's Head of Assets and the Head of Assets Support and Programmes to discuss a resolution of the problems and as part of an overall effort to reduce slips, trips and falls accidents.

Royal Mail fully accept that there were too many Slips, Trips and Falls accidents (not all down to the new shoes and boots) and there are too many complaints regarding faults with the new footwear. Therefore Royal Mail have now agreed to completely scrap the current "Magnum Hi-Tech" footwear and replace it with a redesigned superior range. The aim is that by the end of April a new design shoe and boot will replace the existing range for OPGs and engineers. The aim is for orders to commence in April for the new design shoe and boot and in turn the aim is for the new footwear to be out in the field by August - phasing out the old existing designs (pre-Magnum models and the new Magnum models).

"Magnum Hi-Tech" are working with SATRA Laboratories to produce a redesigned range of footwear that incorporates the best design quality and safety features. This will include; Retention of comfort levels, a new design tread pattern and new sole compound for better grip and slip resistance, improved durability and leather quality, improved quality of uppers, retaining comfort and getting rid of zips. The new upgraded design will be more expensive to produce and early estimates are around a £10 per pair increase.

Yours Sincerely


Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[DB1100]

What was the purpose of the zip?,it seemed completely pointless to me

[TrueBlueTerrier]

What was the purpose of the zip?,it seemed completely pointless to me

Original idea was for Police Officers and Servicemen on QRF (Quick Reaction Forces) to use them. The zip enabled you to get them on quick instead of lacing it up. Used to have my own set when I was in Bosnia and they were a godsend. IMHO we don't need the zip as Posties better for it to go.

[DB1100]

We had the good old leaky DMS,with extensions sewn on the top,proper boots,none of that new fangled zip malarkey ,seriously though once the zip busts the boots are useless,no way can you get them tight.I don't know which is worse,the Magnum boots or the new Leyland vans

[pinstripe]

The soles on my magnums now have great grip, they are comfy and light to wear. However the waterproof covering has peeled off and they are no longer waterproof (if they ever were) and the heel has worn away and there's now a hole in them. Hats off to RM, the overall quality of these boots is only matched by their industrial relations with their workforce.

[seeker019]

Bring back the old footwaer, Dr Martins soles

[combocrasher]

Just bring back the old doc martens

[rhino49]

The soles on my magnums now have great grip, they are comfy and light to wear. However the waterproof covering has peeled off and they are no longer waterproof (if they ever were) and the heel has worn away and there's now a hole in them. Hats off to RM, the overall quality of these boots is only matched by their industrial relations with their workforce.

I wouldn't have thought they were that bad

[doveston]

looks like were stuck with this crap till august at least.