Posties fail to deliver - because they don't have hard hats

johnnyp · Post by **johnnyp** » 26 Sep 2008, 19:26

http://www.rutland-times.co.uk/news/Pos ... 4534194.jp
Posties fail to deliver - because they don't have hard hats

Date: 26 September 2008
Postmen are failing to make deliveries to a new Uppingham estate every day because they don't have hard hats to wear.
Residents moved into the new homes off Seaton Road a month ago but Royal Mail claims there are still health and safety issues which prevent daily deliveries.

Angry residents have missed bill payments and lost mail because the postmen have only visited a handful of times in the last month.
Tom and Alison Smith, of Blackthorn Close, say they never know when their post will arrive.

The couple questioned their postman and staff at the post offices in Uppingham and Oakham for an explanation but were given different reasons each time.

The postman apparently said it was because they haven't got time to cover the new homes which have been added to their rounds but others said it was because the estate was still classed as a building site and the postmen didn't have hard hats.

Mr Smith said: "The week we moved in there were no deliveries at all and last week we only had two. It's very hit or miss whether we get a delivery or not.

"People at the other end are putting stamps on our mail with the belief that it will reach us, but it is sitting at the Oakham sorting office for days. Often the first class mail is taking as long to arrive as second class post. We are being ripped off."

Mrs Smith added: "We've had to go to the post offices in Oakham and Uppingham to collect our mail and one neighbour even had to go to Leicester. I have already missed one bill payment because the letter arrived five days after it was due to be paid."

Their neighbour Suzanne Hunt is paying up to £10 a month for her post to be re-directed to her new home but so far hasn't had anything arrive from her old address.

She said: "When I asked at the post office I was told it's because the postmen don't have hard hats."

Neighbour Natasha Muller was given the same reason. She said: "We manage to live here without hard hats, so there is no reason why the postmen can't deliver our mail. They come some days, so why not every day?"

Royal Mail spokesman Jaquie Stenson said: "Following some initial teething troubles, for which we apologise, we are making deliveries to all accessible addresses in Blackthorn Close.

"In some cases if there is a health and safety issue that stops us from delivering, which can happen if residents move into a development that is incomplete, we would make alternative arrangements with customers locally so they can still obtain their mail.

"If any residents are still having problems with the service I would advise them to contact our customer service department on 08457740740 with full details so we can investigate."

axeman · Post by **axeman** » 26 Sep 2008, 19:32

They cant be on 'A' plus then another royal fail management issue they haven't got the brains to sort out

norbert · Post by **norbert** » 27 Sep 2008, 11:46

axeman wrote:They cant be on 'A' plus then another royal fail management issue they haven't got the brains to sort out

On building sites it's usually no helmets or steel toe cap boots = no job , Jesus ! - all it takes is a phone call to the Site Agent so the postman can borrow a helmet and hi-viz from the site agent's office - or the Post Office gets you that gear but

It just seems "strange" that RM always play the H&S card when it suits them

- RM's ideal is Holland TNT with lots of multi occupancy addresses with communal letter boxes

and it would be cheaper

to deliver ?

Still there will be plenty of jobs running whelk stalls

or Brewery premises parties for the white shirts when the headcount has to go down

Big Daz · Post by **Big Daz** » 27 Sep 2008, 19:36

Steel toe caps which RM do any way and a Hard hat in the pannier and away you go, builders manage to stay safe so simply follow site safety rules as well and shouldnt be a problem should it?

not me · Post by **not me** » 27 Sep 2008, 20:30

Big Daz wrote:Steel toe caps which RM do any way and a Hard hat in the pannier and away you go, builders manage to stay safe so simply follow site safety rules as well and shouldnt be a problem should it?

no steel toe caps in the new shoes

Big Daz · Post by **Big Daz** » 28 Sep 2008, 05:30

?????

Sections of the mail centre that serves my DO are designated steel toe cap areas so RM if they are are going to discontinue steel toe caps have to find alternative safety measures.

not me · Post by **not me** » 28 Sep 2008, 08:09

Big Daz wrote:?????

Sections of the mail centre that serves my DO are designated steel toe cap areas so RM if they are are going to discontinue steel toe caps have to find alternative safety measures.

well everyone ive seen with the new shoes are non steel toe caps
they are also soft uppers so theres really no protection
i was surprised myself TBH