Sacked for not wearing helmet, is it possible?

[crooner1981]

Just to clarify this has not happened to my knowledge but could it?
I mean I know it makes sense to wear one but realistically if you get caught out on delivery not wearing it and then get taken down the conduct route and eventually end up at the worst case scenario would it really stick. Were always being threatened with this but I just cant see it not being thrown out of an unfair dismissal tribunal myself. It would be the most pathetic reason for losing a job.
Also if its not law to wear a helmet why cant postpersons who do not want to wear a helmet sign a disclaimer waiving all responsibility from RM, this way we'd be happy and RM could stop sh***ing themselves.
I know some people will be of the you should wear your helmet anyway persuasion but there are alot of us who don't.

[DGP1]

From another thread

The Gene Genie is back with an update.....He got SACKED !!!!! This is the story.My mate was seen leaving the DO without his helmet on.Next day he was taken into the office for a warning....that was at the start of the year..about 2 months ago ,while riding to work at 05.50 (start time 0600) a manager who was on his way to work saw my mate without his helmet on .so,he was taken into the office and the conduct code was thrown at him..."If your seen again without your helmet on you will be suspended and it will be pasted up to our DOM".. 4 weeks ago while on delivery,he had pust his last letter through on this particular road.The next call was across the road,some 20yrds away.So without thinking he jumped on his bike to cross the road .BIG F##k'N MISTAKE.....His line manager was passing in a hire van.The manager stopped and spoke to the postie.Next morning at 0600 ,he was taken into the office and suspended.He was told to leave his delivery pouches and bike and go home.5 weeks later he got the SACK .Gross misconduct. The union back the wearing of helmets and are powerless to save your jobs if you get caught without one....This is a stark warning to you all..Ask your own Reps and they will tell you.Don't forget that Full time members of staff are a BURDEN to RM we are costing them to much money in pensions and lump sums
Take care out there...RM is watching you xx

[Rowdy]

Just to clarify this has not happened to my knowledge but could it?
I mean I know it makes sense to wear one but realistically if you get caught out on delivery not wearing it and then get taken down the conduct route and eventually end up at the worst case scenario would it really stick. Were always being threatened with this but I just cant see it not being thrown out of an unfair dismissal tribunal myself. It would be the most pathetic reason for losing a job.
Also if its not law to wear a helmet why cant postpersons who do not want to wear a helmet sign a disclaimer waiving all responsibility from RM, this way we'd be happy and RM could stop sh***ing themselves.
I know some people will be of the you should wear your helmet anyway persuasion but there are alot of us who don't.

I wear a helmet when I cycle because I don't want something like this happening to me. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-p ... 058771.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Some people don't like wearing seatbelts but they have to as it's the law and I think it should be the same for cycle helmets. I can't see what the big deal is myself.

[rhino49]

From another thread

The Gene Genie is back with an update.....He got SACKED !!!!! This is the story.My mate was seen leaving the DO without his helmet on.Next day he was taken into the office for a warning....that was at the start of the year..about 2 months ago ,while riding to work at 05.50 (start time 0600) a manager who was on his way to work saw my mate without his helmet on .so,he was taken into the office and the conduct code was thrown at him..."If your seen again without your helmet on you will be suspended and it will be pasted up to our DOM".. 4 weeks ago while on delivery,he had pust his last letter through on this particular road.The next call was across the road,some 20yrds away.So without thinking he jumped on his bike to cross the road .BIG F##k'N MISTAKE.....His line manager was passing in a hire van.The manager stopped and spoke to the postie.Next morning at 0600 ,he was taken into the office and suspended.He was told to leave his delivery pouches and bike and go home.5 weeks later he got the SACK .Gross misconduct. The union back the wearing of helmets and are powerless to save your jobs if you get caught without one....This is a stark warning to you all..Ask your own Reps and they will tell you.Don't forget that Full time members of staff are a BURDEN to RM we are costing them to much money in pensions and lump sums
Take care out there...RM is watching you xx

Sheer Darwinism - if they start the conduct code sequence, you don't give them another chance to get you, I'm sorry for the guy but how many chances did he want?

[crooner1981]

I do wear my helmet and ok I can see that why your doing the job then fair enough wear one. I dont agree that you should get caught however before youve signed in at work or when youve finished and cycling home, this is your time and therefore nothing to do with RM.

[Tall Guy]

It's not the law, but it is a basic requirement agreed between company and union, whether individuals like it or not. You won't get binned first time as it doesn't come under gross misconduct, unless you state that you're not going to wear one no matter what, but if you are dealt with first time and get a written warning, then you may get sacked the next time. Three times and it's likely. Whether a manager chooses to deal with it formally is a completely different matter of course.

One guy I know of refused to wear a lid point blank and was dismissed.

'elf and safety innit?

[Big Daz]

Cycle hats are classed as Personal Protective Equipment and by law any PPE your employer issues you must be used.

There is a national aggrement on the non wearing of safety hats so the tribunal thing wouldnt be as clear cut as suggested as RML will wave their aggrement with CWU around.

At my D.O if you use a RM bike to get to and from work then high vis and cycle hat must be worn.

Obvisouly what you do on your own bike is fine.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg174.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[singingpostman]

This is probably the one issue I would be prepared to be sacked for, I will not wear a helmet its my decision as an adult and I will take the consequences, FFS this country and its health and safety and nanny attitude and PC human rights issues make it a bloody pain in the a**e to live in.

God the world was a better place when I was first a postie back in the 70's, we even used to smoke at the sorting frames in those days ! ah happy days.

[andy2007]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: If you start picking and choosing, which H&S rules you're going to obey. You'll give the Managers more leverage, for trying to force people to cut more dangerous corners.

There's a lot of doubt about the effectiveness of Cycle Helmets. So I can understand you're reluctance to wear one. But what happens when a Manager tries to pressurise you into carrying too much weight?
We both know that the answer will be "Well you're Collegue does it, and you ignore the Helmet Rules. So get on with it". Or something along those lines.

So please: FOLLOW ALL SSOW TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY! None of us are perfect. So sooner or later, we'll make a mistake. But there's a big difference, between a moment's lapse. And routinely ignoring a SSOW.

But don't take MY word for it. Just look at what's happening to drevil1969uk. Because some of his Collegues are taking unneccessary risks: http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 15&t=16450" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[IWW Fellow Worker]

As far as I'm aware, there has only ever been one agreement between the CWU and RM regarding cycle helmets. It clearly states that helmets need not be worn when cycling to and from work, but must be worn when cycling to and from the delivery. I've never heard that this has been updated, so I would think anyone going to a tribunal will have a good chance of winning.

[Lounge Lizard]

This is probably the one issue I would be prepared to be sacked for, I will not wear a helmet its my decision as an adult and I will take the consequences, FFS this country and its health and safety and nanny attitude and PC human rights issues make it a bloody pain in the a**e to live in.

God the world was a better place when I was first a postie back in the 70's, we even used to smoke at the sorting frames in those days ! ah happy days.

A year on are you still not wearing a helmet and avoiding the sack ?

[Caniel]

I wear mine all the time when riding, got into the habit of putting it on the second I jump on my bike now. I don't want to risk the sack over something as trivial as not wearing my helmet

[singingpostman]

This is probably the one issue I would be prepared to be sacked for, I will not wear a helmet its my decision as an adult and I will take the consequences, FFS this country and its health and safety and nanny attitude and PC human rights issues make it a bloody pain in the a**e to live in.

God the world was a better place when I was first a postie back in the 70's, we even used to smoke at the sorting frames in those days ! ah happy days.

A year on are you still not wearing a helmet and avoiding the sack ?

I d'ont do bike rounds often nowadays only on lapsing and O/T, but I would say around 75% of our lads don't wear them, and nope they havent sacked me yet, not even a stage one to my name, have a nice day.

[number one]

huummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.........................

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/5334208.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;