LTB 140/24 - Introduction of 'Correx' York Container Sleeves - Serious Health, Safety & Ergonomic Concerns and Safety Management Failures
No: 140/2024
19 April 2024
Our Ref: C1/24
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
Introduction of ‘Correx’ York Container Sleeves – Serious Health, Safety & Ergonomic Concerns and Safety Management Failures:
This is an update for Branches, Safety Reps and members on the decision of Royal Mail senior Operational Directors and Management team to roll out nationally and universally across all operations – automation and manual functions, York Container white plastic Correx Sleeves (or liners) and to withdraw from service and scrap all red Auto-Levelling Parcel/Packet (ALP) sleeves.
Without any proper trials, proof of concept or meaningful consultation with the Union, senior Operational Management introduced the white plastic ‘Correx’ York Container Sleeves into the automation operation and the manual sortation operation.
Against strong health, safety and ergonomic objections from the CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department, Royal Mail have continued to persevere with ‘Correx’ sleeves despite;
- Firstly, the ‘Short and Long Term safety and wellbeing risks to the workforce.
- Secondly, ignoring the frail, fragile, poor quality of the ‘Correx’ material and its inability to withstand the arduous use requirements of equipment in the Royal Mail network with thousands being damaged and going out of service every week, broken up, smashed, split, punctured etc., with many continuing in use in a poor hazardous condition with local hap-hazard and botched repairs. The material breaks up and tears easily.
- Thirdly, apart from the musculoskeletal, manual handling risks of injury whilst manually sorting from the ‘Correx’ sleeves, the risks of ‘cumulative’ long-term musculoskeletal and back ill-health is a serious concern.
- Finally, cuts, and abrasions caused by damaged, sharp, jagged, split edges of the ‘Correx’ has become an additional problem with mounting numbers of accidents to the workforce and recently a customer was injured this way.
This week on 15 April Royal Mail announced in an ‘Ops Update’ circular signed off by the Head of Assets, the withdrawal from service of the remaining 250,000 ALP Sleeves to be ‘scrapped’ and re-cycled (but no information on how or what they are being recycled in to)! These ALP Sleeves at £40 each equates to £10 million being discarded and thrown away. (A copy of the circular is attached).
The Red Mk2A ALP Sleeves were jointly developed over many years with the involvement of Royal Mail Assets, the Royal Mail Ergonomist, CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department, ‘Jacon’ Sleeve Manufacturers and ‘Hartwall’ York Container Manufacturers. The result was an ‘Optimum’ performing Sleeve that was operationally tested, ergonomically safe for use in the manual operation and has been a great success. Having achieved that outcome which is a credit to all concerned the Red Alps are now being ditched as Royal Mail moves from its “Safety No1 Mantra” to a new era in which Royal Mail puts performance, efficiency and profit before the safety and health of the workers.
Following the decision of Royal Mail, meetings have taken place with the RMG Director Health and Safety, with the RMG Head of Safety for Programmes and with the RMG Head of Assets where at each meeting we again expressed our strong objections to the removal of ‘ALP sleeves’ and going over to a 100% ‘Correx’ sleeves for the above reasons.
Letters have been sent to:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Chief Operating Officer, lodging an official complaint and requesting intervention by the regulator.
The Royal Mail Group Director of Health and Safety.
The Royal Mail Group Head of Health.
(Copies of these three letters are attached). Use the link to view.
The irony here is that ‘informally’, members of the Royal Mail Group SHE Team, Assets Team and Programmes Team have expressed the fact that they agree with the Union and the arguments, concerns and objections raised but they can’t raise their heads above the parapet for fear of consequences from above!
Further reports will be issued when there are further developments and responses received.
Due to the number of enquiries received on this issue, would ASRs, Branches and IR Reps please ensure that this LTB and attachments is disseminated to local Unit Reps and Members.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer