Reps and the blind eye

[drevil1969uk]

If i was to go up to be voted to become rep and i was voted in (a few ifs i know) Would i be entitled to turn a blind eye or become a pest to the management?
so many rules are broken and i find it hard not to mention them. Health and Safety rules are broken every second in my mail centre and when mentioned to my rep he pretty much shrugs his shoulders, is he or would the rep for H and S not have a right to down tools to some extent?
Im not talking about the odd misdemeanor of a manager moving two yorks to put them into a safe place (yeah right) im talking work areas not having a a safe working area, as in work unsorted (to be sorted) being pushed to an lsm area only to be pushed back by lsm staff (no where for it to go so it sits in a gangway)
If I was a H and S rep and i saw these things happening who would i have to back me up? would head office? as in is my current rep on to a lose lose thing, people moan he complains but doesnt get backed up himself so niothing ever gets done.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

As a health and safety rep I think you have to be a pain in the arse. Although I am not a rep I do have experience in H&S and anything I see being done wrong either by management or workers I point it out to them. The reason is not selfish or even just to be a pain in the arse but I see it as trying to improve the workers lot.

Every time I mention something to management I make a note of it because at some point if someone is hurt because of a hazard I have pointed out, and I have a record of approaching and advising management then the worker who is hurt will be entitled to more damages because of managements inaction or non-compliance.

With workers its harder as they just see you as a pain in the arse, but I still point out that what they are doing is wrong. For instance the grey post bags should have a max of 11kg in them, yet one guy regularly fills one up to the brim and it easily weights 20kg plus and the driver can refuse it if he wishes. The driver never does but if the driver or postman damages their backs when trying to life this bag then neither would have a leg to stand on and they would not be entitled to any compensation. Sometimes people are a fool to themselves but you have to do your best to guide them.


The guiding rule IMO is that H&S rules that are based on workers safety should be enforced rigidly, and breaches should be reported. Some of the H&S rules are stupid and unworkable but it is up to Management and the Union to make the rules work.

[bandit650]

The delivery office that i work in ignores the health and safety rules all the time the best thing we have found as the managers are the worst offenders is to make them aware at the time,put the problem in writting they have to reply,make sure you keep records of when where and what and always put a time and date on the piece of paper, keep records of everything and most important who you talked to.
Its not about being a pain make sure you know all the bits and pieces quote the law at them you can find out what you need to on line HMSO very handy and never just give up because thats what they are hoping for,they really want you to crawl under the stone that you have just come out from,make sure you do it in front of other members of staff so that you have witness's it also makes the managers very nervous when you start sounding like you care,remind them that they are responsible for your H&S just as we all are but at the end of the day the buck stops with them if anything goes wrong.
You can always do as we did when they thought we were joking around with them they would'nt listen so we got the fire inspection officers in,it makes um sit up and take notice.

[norbert]

As a health and safety rep I think you have to be a pain in the arse. Although I am not a rep I do have experience in H&S and anything I see being done wrong either by management or workers I point it out to them. The reason is not selfish or even just to be a pain in the arse but I see it as trying to improve the workers lot.

Every time I mention something to management I make a note of it because at some point if someone is hurt because of a hazard I have pointed out, and I have a record of approaching and advising management then the worker who is hurt will be entitled to more damages because of managements inaction or non-compliance.

With workers its harder as they just see you as a pain in the arse, but I still point out that what they are doing is wrong. For instance the grey post bags should have a max of 11kg in them, yet one guy regularly fills one up to the brim and it easily weights 20kg plus and the driver can refuse it if he wishes. The driver never does but if the driver or postman damages their backs when trying to life this bag then neither would have a leg to stand on and they would not be entitled to any compensation. Sometimes people are a fool to themselves but you have to do your best to guide them.


The guiding rule IMO is that H&S rules that are based on workers safety should be enforced rigidly, and breaches should be reported. Some of the H&S rules are stupid and unworkable but it is up to Management and the Union to make the rules work.

It's also a pain in the arse smelling like a Sunday League Footballer , having to rub Deep Heat Cream in , spraying yourself with that Raygon spray or whatever it's called , doing the exercises and having to go to physiotherapist .

With bags the ones that have all the excessive weight at the bottom are the worst , never mind piling it all up to the top. My mate's sister in law is still after maintenance from her postie ex , every time he made a issue of through recognized channels about it , RM got the screws to all swear blind that he hadn't picked the bag up correctly which is rubbish but none too typical. Overleaden alts with small wheels are literally a pain too.

Absolutely agree about getting primary evidence on H&S , dates, times , who , what , when etc , otherwise RM will stonewall & deny everything and try to make you look like a amateur as it's your word against RM's .

Take matters outside the PO if necessary , whether RM like HSE or Council Inspectors coming round or not , any detriment against you is illegal and enforceable in a ET .

[drevil1969uk]

The delivery office that i work in ignores the health and safety rules all the time the best thing we have found as the managers are the worst offenders is to make them aware at the time,put the problem in writting they have to reply,make sure you keep records of when where and what and always put a time and date on the piece of paper, keep records of everything and most important who you talked to.
Its not about being a pain make sure you know all the bits and pieces quote the law at them you can find out what you need to on line HMSO very handy and never just give up because thats what they are hoping for,they really want you to crawl under the stone that you have just come out from,make sure you do it in front of other members of staff so that you have witness's it also makes the managers very nervous when you start sounding like you care,remind them that they are responsible for your H&S just as we all are but at the end of the day the buck stops with them if anything goes wrong.
You can always do as we did when they thought we were joking around with them they would'nt listen so we got the fire inspection officers in,it makes um sit up and take notice.

You mentioned managers doing it and saying it on front of other members of staff, what if you are the only member of staff saying something, its said in front of the shift manager and your very own H&S rep just ignores it? still write everything down where when whom etc?

[Big Daz]

drevil1969uk

The best thing you can do is stand for local rep yourself when the annual elections come around. H+S reps are elected every two years and there is plenty of training to be had for safety reps that would give you the knowledge to really make a godd rep.

Back for a safety rep would come from the office IR rep and the Area Safety Rep, if you were to become the safety rep any problems you come across that managment chose to ignore then contact your ASR as soon as humanley possible.

Im the IR and safety rep in my D.O and being a safety rep can be more rewarding than a IR rep in the sense that you have the law of the land on your side as well as national aggrements.

[bandit650]

The delivery office that i work in ignores the health and safety rules all the time the best thing we have found as the managers are the worst offenders is to make them aware at the time,put the problem in writting they have to reply,make sure you keep records of when where and what and always put a time and date on the piece of paper, keep records of everything and most important who you talked to.
Its not about being a pain make sure you know all the bits and pieces quote the law at them you can find out what you need to on line HMSO very handy and never just give up because thats what they are hoping for,they really want you to crawl under the stone that you have just come out from,make sure you do it in front of other members of staff so that you have witness's it also makes the managers very nervous when you start sounding like you care,remind them that they are responsible for your H&S just as we all are but at the end of the day the buck stops with them if anything goes wrong.
You can always do as we did when they thought we were joking around with them they would'nt listen so we got the fire inspection officers in,it makes um sit up and take notice.

You mentioned managers doing it and saying it on front of other members of staff, what if you are the only member of staff saying something, its said in front of the shift manager and your very own H&S rep just ignores it? still write everything down where when whom etc?

Its always worth putting things in writting and keeping dates you must work around other people or have a friend who you can rely on to stand with you,you keep a record and build a case then put it into the right place like the area health and saftey if any thing goes wrong then you have all the dates times when where and what.

[drevil1969uk]

dont mean to sound thick whats an IR rep?

[Big Daz]

IR rep(s) is the term given to reps that are not health and safety reps or branch officers such as branch secreatry or branch chair etc etc

Basically its your main union rep area delivery,distribution processing reps divisional reps, parcleforce reps etc etc all the way up to dave ward.

[brothermagrew]

dont mean to sound thick whats an IR rep?

Simply put:


I = Industrial R = Relations Rep = Representative

[fedup postie]

As others have said, it is very important to get it down in writing. Send copies to the Manager, shift manager ASR etc then if something should happen, you have the proof that it was brought to the attention of managers and nothing was done.

Sadly, our own members are sometimes their own worst ememy as they break the rules to suit themselves and the managers will stand by and let them, but once something happens, the management will try and place all the blame on the postperson.

H & S is backed by law. Most of the time, things can be sorted with a descreat word etc but matters should be esculated if needed.