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Carrying Trays - What's The Rules ?

All Health & Safety issues in here.
Sparrowhawk
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 91
Joined: 20 Sep 2007, 06:07

Carrying Trays - What's The Rules ?

Post by Sparrowhawk »

Could anyone please clarify what the H&S rules are with regards to carrying trays of mail ?
I'm getting really fed up with the amount of times I and my colleagues have to dodge those who seem to think it's acceptable to carry a tray in each hand. The area we work in is tight for space , roughly 3 feet between the backs of people sorting letters and flats. I don't feel safe in the work area due to the fact that I ,and my colleagues, are being constantly put at risk.
The trays are being carried in such a way that we could be hit in our backs while sitting at our frames , or that we could be hit in the knees by these irresponsible people weaving their way up the aisle, with a tray in each hand.
Another issue with people carrying 2 trays in this way is that mail often falls out of the tray onto the floor causing a potential slip hazzard. In fact , last night , someone carried 2 trays of letters in this way and half the contents of 1 tray fell out right where I was sitting :evil/mad . The person said "oh sh*t" and I replied "you should only be carrying one tray anyway ! ". I got up and walked away ,being careful not to slip on any of the letters around my feet.
I've lost track of how many times this has been brought to the attention of our managers but they do nothing about it :mad .
They don't even challenge anyone for doing this even if it is right under their noses :evil/mad .
If staff challenge these "people" (and I really had to bite my tongue there), we get laughed at or given some pathetic excuse as to why they think it's ok to carry trays in this manner.
Our Area H&S rep has been told of this but nobody is taking any notice and carry on doing it regardless of the consequences of this very selfish and highly irresponsible way of working.
I don't want to be hit in the back or knee with the corner of a 10kg (max weight although we often get overweight trays)
tray. I don't want to slip on mail on the floor. But I am being put at risk of this happening throughout every shift because some people think it's ok :evil/mad
ldsposti
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 376
Joined: 06 Nov 2008, 18:43
Gender: Male

Re: Carrying Trays - What's The Rules ?

Post by ldsposti »

Hi you only carry one at once, have you all had lifting and handling training if not why not, it is now safety & health so safety comes first, you should get your office h&s rep involved and if as you say your area h&s rep will not do anything then contact your branch, it might help if you went to the download section there could be something on lifting and handling there, if there is more than just you worried about this why not all speak to your manager thats what we would do in our office.
Wild Rover
Posts: 614
Joined: 03 Aug 2007, 17:41
Location: Jockistan

Re: Carrying Trays - What's The Rules ?

Post by Wild Rover »

Health and bloody safety - who cares.

If Crozier doesn't care about his workforce, why the f**k should we be so concerned about a few trays? :confused
Sparrowhawk
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 91
Joined: 20 Sep 2007, 06:07

Re: Carrying Trays - What's The Rules ?

Post by Sparrowhawk »

Wild Rover wrote:Health and bloody safety - who cares.

If Crozier doesn't care about his workforce, why the f**k should we be so concerned about a few trays? :confused
Typical kind of attitude from anyone who doesn't give a sh*t about the safety of anyone they work with :roll:
Why the f**k should you be concerned ? It's everyone's LEGAL responsibility , that's why .
Ignore H&S & hurt someone because of that , then you would end up in court and probably lose your job :crazy: .
thehappyones
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 305
Joined: 08 Nov 2007, 11:42
Gender: Male

Re: Carrying Trays - What's The Rules ?

Post by thehappyones »

Listen lass i wouldn't bother my arse with these people ,if you think the area in which you work is unsafe then don't work there and tell your manager why ,then if he refuses to deal with it take it higher and keep going till you get a result ......they cant disipline you girl ive been there and bought the t-shirt .....if youre in glw &dist amal get a hold of Area Safety Rep Arthur (the nugget)Nugent and get him to talk to your manager
The only reason people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
Sparrowhawk
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 91
Joined: 20 Sep 2007, 06:07

Re: Carrying Trays - What's The Rules ?

Post by Sparrowhawk »

ldsposti wrote:Hi you only carry one at once, have you all had lifting and handling training if not why not, it is now safety & health so safety comes first, you should get your office h&s rep involved and if as you say your area h&s rep will not do anything then contact your branch, it might help if you went to the download section there could be something on lifting and handling there, if there is more than just you worried about this why not all speak to your manager thats what we would do in our office.
We have all had lifting and handling training , some people choose to ignore it though and are risking not only their own long term health (more fool them) but also the safety of others.
I'm not sure who our office H&S rep is and the Area rep isn't often on our shift. Area rep has spoken to the manager about this a few times now but the manager doesn't pay any attention to what he is told re H&S !
A few of us bring this up a lot but nothing is done about it.
thehappyones wrote:Listen lass i wouldn't bother my arse with these people ,if you think the area in which you work is unsafe then don't work there and tell your manager why ,then if he refuses to deal with it take it higher and keep going till you get a result ......they cant disipline you girl ive been there and bought the t-shirt .....if youre in glw &dist amal get a hold of Area Safety Rep Arthur (the nugget)Nugent and get him to talk to your manager
I have no respect for people who continually put others safety at risk. They know the rules and will be fully answerable for the consequences when someone does get hurt due to their acts/omissions from working in an unsafe manner :wink:
I and my colleagues just don't want a badly bruised back or a dislocated kneecap from being hit ,or our heads split open on the floor from slipping on mail which falls out of the trays and under our feet.
I'm not in glw &dist amal but thanks for that. Is there a National H&S rep for Scotland or would Dave Joyce be a better bet ?
Thanks to the helpful replies :Very Happy
viking1488
Posts: 446
Joined: 15 May 2009, 15:37
Gender: Male

Re: Carrying Trays - What's The Rules ?

Post by viking1488 »

just one at a time you dont want to look like your doing to much work