LTB 166/20 - Distribution of Coronavirus COVID 19 Testing Kits - SAC1 Health and Safety - Ongoing RM/CWU National Review

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 165/20 - Distribution of Coronavirus Testing Kits – RM Operational Documentation

No: 165/2020

31st March 2020

For the Immediate Attention of All:

Postal Branches

Divisional Representatives

Area Processing Representatives

Area Distribution Representatives

Area Delivery Representatives



Dear Colleagues

Distribution of Coronavirus Testing Kits – RM Operational Documentation

Further to LTB 161/20 Branches and representatives will be aware that Royal Mail will be involved in the delivery, collection from priority postboxes and processing of Coronavirus Testing Kits on behalf of the Government/NHS. The CWU supports this initiative as a key public service initiative in support of NHS workers, deployed in line with the principles contained in the union’s letter to Rico Back of the 30th March 2020 on an Emergency Measures Response to the escalating Coronavirus Pandemic.

Attached for the information are the following operational documents that have been prepared and released by Royal Mail in preparation for the commencement of the initiative:

Annex A: Managers Brief
Annex B: Handout for Collections & Delivery
Annex C: Handout for Processing
Annex D: Handout for Inward Processing

Colleagues should note that while cross functional discussions have taken place with Royal Mail to understand the operational arrangements, the attached are business documents that we have not had any direct input into. In particular the references to the CWU and our representatives included in the Managers Brief were not discussed or agreed with the union in advance of publication.

Also attached at Annex E is additional information that has been supplied by the business in respect of the Covid-19 testing program, which may be of assistance to Branches and representatives when dealing with enquiries or any issues that are raised.

Discussions are continuing between the CWU Health and Safety Department and the business to ensure that all necessary SSOW are in place and Branches will be updated accordingly.

Branches and representatives are requested to ensure that this LTB and the attached documentation is given the widest publication and brought to the attention of members as soon as possible.

Any enquiries in relation to this LTB should be addressed to:

Processing: Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org quoting reference: 014.14

or

Deliveries/Collections: Mark Baulch, Assistant Secretary, email outdoorsecretary@cwu.org quoting reference: 170

Yours sincerely



Davie Robertson – Assistant Secretary

Mark Baulch – Assistant Secretary

LTB16520 https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mtlatt-jtfltzjh-i/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Annex A – Managers brief – Antigen test kits https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mtlatt-jtfltzjh-d/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Annex B Antigen test kit – handout for Collections and Delivery https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mtlatt-jtfltzjh-h/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Annex C Antigen test kit – handout for Processing https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mtlatt-jtfltzjh-k/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Annex D Antigen test kit – handout for Inward Processing https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mtlatt-jtfltzjh-u/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Annex E – Covid Testing Kit https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mtlatt-jtfltzjh-o/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

View Online https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mtlatt-jtfltzjh-b/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Deadly]

I'm surprised this hasn't had any comments. Although we've been told the testing kits won't harm us, be sure to pick them out of the postbox with a plastic bag as stated in the attached document

1. Open the box as per normal process and scan the barcode
2. If any of the test kits are in the box, carefully isolate the item into a single plastic bag and seal
the top
3. Place item into a Letter tray or separate mail sack for transportation to the Mail Centre
4. If the outer packaging is torn or broken, use the bag to pick it up but do not put it into the
tray/bag with other items for processing. Place it in a separate bag and hand it over for safe
disposal when you reach the collection hub or plant

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 166/20 - Distribution of Coronavirus COVID 19 Testing Kits - SAC1 Health and Safety - Ongoing RM/CWU National Review

No. 166/2020

31 March 2020

Our Ref: E1/20

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Distribution of Coronavirus COVID 19 Testing Kits – SAC1 Health and Safety – Ongoing RM/CWU National Review

As detailed in LTB 161/20 the government has announced that Royal Mail will have a role in the distribution of Coronavirus testing kits to NHS and Social Care frontline staff currently in isolation and will be exclusively responsible for the collection of these kits.

Whilst the CWU welcomes the government’s decision to entrust this crucial task to the Royal Mail network, the priority of the CWU H&S Department is the health, safety and wellbeing of our members, the workforce. Appropriate consultation and discussions have been taking place at a senior level with the business.

In consultation with Government medical advisors and with the involvement of Dave Joyce, CWU Health, Safety & Environment Officer, the risk of carrying the NHS COVID – 19 testing kits has been assessed and controls put in place to ensure that handling them is safe. The packaging meets the United Nations standard for this type of specimen and so will not leak. As an additional precaution, in case the outside of the packaging has been contaminated, employees are instructed to cover them with a plastic bag, without touching them, the first time they are handled. All the safety controls identified have been included in the design of the processes and are described in the Operational Handouts that have been produced and communicated to managers and employees.

The attached documentation provides more details on the process and safety arrangements drawn up with input from the RMG Central SHE Team and RMG Occupational Health and Ergonomics Manager

Throughout the operational process colleagues are reminded to observe strict handwashing guidelines before and after handling mail. Royal Mail has confirmed that hand sanitiser is now available to all collections and delivery staff. Gloves are available, and as an additional safety precaution we recommend gloves are worn by collection drivers

There will be ongoing RM/CWU review at national level, including a weekly conference to ensure oversight. To this end, the CWU H&S Department requests Branch ASRs monitor arrangements in their Branch areas and localities, feeding back queries and questions to the CWU H&S Department. These queries and questions will be logged with the RMG Dangerous Goods Advisor, Governance and Compliance and will be discussed as part of the ongoing national review.

Yours sincerely

Ray Ellis
Acting Health & Safety Officer

20LTB166 Distribution of Coronavirus COVID 19 Testing Kits – SAC1 H&S https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mtlttuk-jtfljuhyd-d/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Coronavirus Testing Kits SAC1 (SHEI 5.3) (v2.3) https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mtlttuk-jtfljuhyd-h/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dave Joyce Covid 19 Testing Kit Service v1 https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mtlttuk-jtfljuhyd-k/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

View Online https://emails.cwu.org/t/d-l-mtlttuk-jtfljuhyd-u/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[POSTMAN]

I'm surprised this hasn't had any comments. Although we've been told the testing kits won't harm us, be sure to pick them out of the postbox with a plastic bag as stated in the attached document

1. Open the box as per normal process and scan the barcode
2. If any of the test kits are in the box, carefully isolate the item into a single plastic bag and seal
the top
3. Place item into a Letter tray or separate mail sack for transportation to the Mail Centre
4. If the outer packaging is torn or broken, use the bag to pick it up but do not put it into the
tray/bag with other items for processing. Place it in a separate bag and hand it over for safe
disposal when you reach the collection hub or plant

Been chatting about it here...
Royal Mail Delivering coronavirus tests to NHS staff : Including LTB

[Eekaaay]

[quote="Deadly"]I'm surprised this hasn't had any comments. Although we've been told the testing kits won't harm us, be sure to pick them out of the postbox with a plastic bag as stated in the attached document

I think they are desperately trying not to draw attention to the fact that ALL mail will potentially be contaminated mail very soon as the virus reaches its peak number of cases in about a week or so. We should be treating all incoming mail items like biohazard items but when I mentioned this to my manager, they just huffed and said "Well how the heck would you do that?". Well I don't care...it's not my job to come up with the solutions, the company should be working that out. As the government have stated - they have a duty of care. The CWUs role in this has been pathetic as well.

At the very least, cleaning all the vans every day would massively reduce the amount of virus transmission via surface contamination - either driver to driver or from contaminated mail. As it is, I'm getting into a van each day and finding USED gloves and USED wipes all over the seats and floor. Kinda defeats the object really..... And cleaning all the hot spots does not cover for contamination from aerosols i.e.other driver's breath...so all of the cab could get infected from someone coughing and sneezing on their own, thinking they are not harming anyone and not wiping down the van after their shift. The virus has been proven to live on plastic for days. And anyway all of this is probably wasted effort if we are dipping into post boxes every few minutes and handling contaminated mail (either with bare or gloved hands, it doesn't matter) and then just carrying on and touching the steering wheel...gear lever...handbrake etc and then subconsciously our faces. The only way to control this sort of cross contamination would be to change gloves or wash or hands after every single postbox to try and keep the cab clean.

It very much seems RM is strongly pursuing "herd immunity" over and above any other solution imho. Well in my depot we have around 250 people. Avg 2% mortality...with my team generally being older than average...that's around 4 deaths. Nice.