I don't know if I imagined it, but is here a health and safety rule about having to have two people to load a bike onto the back of the high-top transit sized vans?
I think I have to train soon on a round that requires me to drive out to a vilage dropping two other off, which is why it's a big van, then for my round, I use a bike, but I keep moving along the round with the van, and getting the bike on and off the van at various points, but I'm sure I'm going to find it quite hard to manage to load it on and off on my own.
The lads that do it at the moment don't have a problem, but I'm worried that being female it's going to look as though I can't cope with it for that reason
Any thoughts?
'I tolerate this century but I don't enjoy it'
The Doctor in 'An Unearthly Child'
A species set on endless growth is.... UNSUSTAINABLE
Timelord wrote:I don't know if I imagined it, but is here a health and safety rule about having to have two people to load a bike onto the back of the high-top transit sized vans?
I think I have to train soon on a round that requires me to drive out to a vilage dropping two other off, which is why it's a big van, then for my round, I use a bike, but I keep moving along the round with the van, and getting the bike on and off the van at various points, but I'm sure I'm going to find it quite hard to manage to load it on and off on my own.
The lads that do it at the moment don't have a problem, but I'm worried that being female it's going to look as though I can't cope with it for that reason
Any thoughts?
Timelord
I think that the health and safety rule that you are imagining or otherwise is applicable specifically for High Capacity Trolleys (HCT) and not for bikes.
In order to minimise
manual handling risks and
ensure that they do not
exceed RM and HSE
guidelines, two people
should push the HCT up
the ramp positioned either
side of the ramp.
Nonetheless, your duty which you are about to be trained on soon, should be properly risk assessed by your DOM. And any issues should be highlighted by this risk assessment. If you foresee or have specific problems in loading and unloading a bike into a high top van then you should consult with your unit health and safety rep and where one is not in situ then consult with the Area health and safety rep. Get them to address the problem for you with management.
It isn't a case as you have suggested of not being able to cope for the reason that you have stated. It is about minimising manual handling risks and ensuring that they do not exceed RM and HSE guidelines. Why do you have to at certain points use the bike? After all you are using a van!
"Today’s workplace has become heartless and soulless. Employees are seen as units of labour, automatons, functionaries, objects for achieving designated tasks, and as costs to be minimised."
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations, need to be adhered to however. These do not set out specifics weights etc. they use an ergonomics approach. This means fitting the job to the person as opposed to person to the job and entails the undertaking of a risk assessment. Any previous assessment must be updated to incorporate any changes in the task, load, working environment, individual capability and other factors. The Regs basically state that you should avoid hazardous manual handling operations so far as reasonably practicable, assess any hazardous manual handling operations that cannot be avoided and reduce the risk of injury so far as reasonably practicable.
Timelord wrote: Why do you have to at certain points use the bike? After all you are using a van!
Well, I've wondered this myself and I suppose I should wait until I've had the training before I start 'worrying' about it, but the people who cover the round regularly say it's quicker to take a bike out and use it for certain parts of the round rather than just use the van, but I think I'll have to weigh it up when I'm shown the round.
Thanks both of you for your comments, I think I'll try to stop thinking about it until it happens!!
'I tolerate this century but I don't enjoy it'
The Doctor in 'An Unearthly Child'
A species set on endless growth is.... UNSUSTAINABLE
Timelord wrote:the people who cover the round regularly say it's quicker to take a bike out and use it for certain parts of the round rather than just use the van
From that comment, it appears to me according to the regs that the operation can be avoided. The possibility to shave a little bit of time off a delivery duty in insufficient reason to create a hazard.
Timelord wrote: Why do you have to at certain points use the bike? After all you are using a van!
Well, I've wondered this myself and I suppose I should wait until I've had the training before I start 'worrying' about it, but the people who cover the round regularly say it's quicker to take a bike out and use it for certain parts of the round rather than just use the van, but I think I'll have to weigh it up when I'm shown the round.
Thanks both of you for your comments, I think I'll try to stop thinking about it until it happens!!
If I were you I'd get this cleared up by, as said before, either your local h&s rep or your Area Rep. All this lifting up n down is all well, but if you put your back out and end up with being put on a stage do you think Management will look at your case with sorrowful eyes? Think again and look after No.1
lol,
just a tip, the old bikes are a lot lighter than the new ones if u can get one. Weight might not be the issue tho because just manouvering large unstable items like bikes can do u an arm or back injury. If u think u are putting your back at risk u don't do it!
Timelord wrote:the people who cover the round regularly say it's quicker to take a bike out and use it for certain parts of the round rather than just use the van
From that comment, it appears to me according to the regs that the operation can be avoided. The possibility to shave a little bit of time off a delivery duty in insufficient reason to create a hazard.
My thoughts exactly, I'd rather take a little longer than hurt my back lifting a heavy old Mailstar onto the van.
There are some good replies here, thanks everyone.
'I tolerate this century but I don't enjoy it'
The Doctor in 'An Unearthly Child'
A species set on endless growth is.... UNSUSTAINABLE
