Weather Warning

[jockstrapp]

The weekend will be washed out by the worst storm of the year so far, with gale-force gusts and heavy rain on its way, forecasters warned today. Weather experts are advising those planning Saturday shopping trips and days out to postpone them and stay indoors as Britain is buffeted by winds of up to 70mph.

Above taken from todays news.........does this include posties

[Stormproof]

Its rained all day here, the garden is like a swamp and the wind has just started picking up. Of course there will be no brief at work tomorrow about delivering in dangerous conditions even though the warnings have suggested that trees and roof tiles will be falling.

[pinstripe]

Only us Southern Softies down here. They breed them hardy in Scotland.

[mydaily]

I'll have to stay in the office at least since the new CAT shoes ain't one bit waterproof

[headscrewedon]

Bad Joke warning

mydaily: I'll have to stay in the office, since the new CAT shoes ain't one bit waterproof
Unsympathetic DOM: Looks like your socks will be doing some absorbing too, then !

[kwf166]

I've already been wash out,I still got water coming out of my ears any further bad weather not going to make much difference to me, infact anyone out there who think our job is easy think again, love to see some of these people do our job in the winter time, they be lucky to last 5 minutes

[krussel]

Before my time but they sent the guys out in the hurricane of 1988 so this bit of bad weather wont worry Royal Mail

[da'bunny]

They dont care about our safety/wellbeing as long as the mail gets through .....

[BoyGeorge]

Nothing worst than delivering in weather like that then people saying "ooh you must be wet through love". Have to bite my lip sometimes from giving verbal.

[Stormproof]

Before the storm

* Secure loose objects such as ladders, garden furniture or anything else that could be blown into windows and other glazing and break them.
* Close and securely fasten doors and windows, particularly those on the windward side of the house, and especially large doors such as those on garages.
* Park vehicles in a garage, if available; otherwise keep them clear of buildings, trees, walls and fences.
* Close and secure loft trapdoors with bolts, particularly if roof pitch is less than 30°.
* If the house is fitted with storm shutters over the windows then ensure that these are closed and fastened.
* If chimney stacks are tall and in poor condition, move beds away from areas directly below them.

During the storm

* Stay indoors as much as possible.
* If you do go out, try not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees.
* Keep away from the sheltered side of boundary walls and fences — if these structures fail, they will collapse on this side.
* Do not go outside to repair damage while the storm is in progress.
* If possible, enter and leave your house through doors in the sheltered side, closing them behind you.
* Open internal doors only as needed, and close them behind you.
* Take care when driving on exposed routes such as bridges, or high open roads, delay your journey or find alternative routes if possible.
* Slow down and be aware of side winds, particular care should be taken if you are towing or are a high sided vehicle.
* Do not drive unless your journey is really necessary.

After the storm

* Be careful not to touch any electrical/telephone cables that have been blown down or are still hanging.
* Do not walk too close to walls, buildings and trees as they could have been weakened.
* Make sure that any vulnerable neighbours or relatives are safe and help them make arrangements for any repairs.

[smokerjim]

Before my time but they sent the guys out in the hurricane of 1988 so this bit of bad weather wont worry Royal Mail

Sevenoaks got a right shoeing from that hurricane, so I'll have to ask the boys tomorrow how to cope

Nothing worst than delivering in weather like that then people saying "ooh you must be wet through love". Have to bite my lip sometimes from giving verbal.

Yeah, comments like that are always as welcome as a bacon sarnie at a Bar Mitzvah

[Stormproof]

Before my time but they sent the guys out in the hurricane of 1988 so this bit of bad weather wont worry Royal Mail

Sevenoaks got a right shoeing from that hurricane, so I'll have to ask the boys tomorrow how to cope

The storm was October 1987 I was living near Seal Chart just outside of Sevenoaks

[chunk]

I may leave for work a little earlier in the morning.
Not to get in some extra prep!
But so i can drive to the conditions i.e a bit slower if i have to.

[smokerjim]

Before my time but they sent the guys out in the hurricane of 1988 so this bit of bad weather wont worry Royal Mail

Sevenoaks got a right shoeing from that hurricane, so I'll have to ask the boys tomorrow how to cope

The storm was October 1987 I was living near Seal Chart just outside of Sevenoaks

Thankfully it don't look like that now......but I've never delivered near the Chart ( shame, cos I'd like to find exactly where Stan Stephens is ), but I'll be up on Kingsdown tomorrow.....and it always feels windier than the rest of the district up there ( t'rrific)

[Dushku2309]

All joking aside..I asked my line manager once what was the criteria for severe weather conditions and he just thought I was having a laugh and didn't answer me, he just laughed and walked away.

Now, we worked in our office one winter in minus temperatures when the boiler broke down and or Rep told us, that if the temperature dropped below a significant level, by law we didn't have to work. So we walked off the floor and up to the canteen.

Despite the full backing of the local CWU branch - we all lost over two hours pay due to us calling a 'wild cat' strike. We've still not been paid the money owed.

With this in mind, along with the health and safety protocols that my esteemed colleagues have posted on this thread - there has to be some sort of guide line for walking out in severe wind, rain, cold and heat. If the National Weather service are advising people to stay in doors or to travel unless it's of the up most importance - then shouldn't we be adhering to this advice also?

Or are we that an expendable an asset to the Royal Mail ?!